ESR1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In addition, six mostly changed hub genes were identified, including MAD2L1, CDC20, CCNB1, CCND1, AR, and ESR1. These novel findings may contribute to the unraveling of the pathogenesis of HCC, and these candidate genes may be optimal abnormal methylation-based biomarkers that can be used to accurately diagnose and treat HCC.