In summary, The differentially expressed miRNAs, mir-148a, mir-374a, mir-497, let-7a and let-7e, and the differentially methylated genes, AKT1, CAMK2D, CDC25B, CRK, HRAS, JUND, MAP2K4, MAPKAPK2, MYC, NFATC2, NFKB1, NTRK2, PPP3CA, PPP3R1, TAB2, TNFRSF1A and TRAF2, regulate cell proliferation, apoptotic process and cell cycle through ErbB and MAPK pathways in the switch between stage I HCC and stage II HCC. Here, MAP2K4 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.