Of 12 identified genes in this prognostic model, three (COPS8, SUGCT and DUSP10) played a protective role in HCC patients, and by contrast the other nine (EIF5B, MNAT1, WASF1, EWSR1, POLR3C, RNF24, PCSK5, NRBP1 and CCDC88A) acted as risk factors for HCC. Here, PCSK5 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.