MAPK8 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Among the top 30 genes overexpressed in the H-JNK1 HCC tissue relative to the L-JNK1 HCC tissue, 23 genes had been previously implicated as signature genes either for HCC itself or for the prediction of poorer prognostic outcomes, such as impaired patient survival, intra-hepatic or extra-hepatic metastasis, and earlier recurrence of the tumor after surgical resection.