Decreasing mRNA levels of AGTR1, GCKR, GCLC, CD14, CYP2E1, NR1I2, PPARA, PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 and increasing expression of PARVB were associated with progression from normal liver to HCC (high confidence observations). This evidence concerns the gene PNPLA3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.