MicroRNA-122 confers sorafenib resistance to hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting IGF-1R to regulate RAS/RAF/ERK signaling pathways

•Liver-specific miR-122 expression is significantly reduced in sorafenib-resistant cells.•Overexpression of miR-122 can confer drug tolerant cells sensitive to sorafenib and induce cell apoptosis.•Up-regulated of miR-122 mediate cell apoptosis was repressed by IGF-1R activitors and enhanced by IGF-1R inhibitors.•Up-regulation of IGF-1R contribute to activation of RAS/RAF/ERK signaling which is associated with drug resistance.