We identified 50 hub genes that correlated with BCLC staging of HCC patients, of which 13 hub genes (TIGD5, C8ORF33, NUDCD1, INTS8, ZNF623, STIP1, HSP90AB1, DSCC1, POP1, ARHGAP39, PRKDC, YDJC and PUSL1) also correlated with OS in HCC patients. Here, PUSL1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.