By adjusted multivariate analysis, the following five variables were found to be independent risk factors for LNM in HCC: vascular invasion (P = 0.055, HR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.0 ~ 6.5), BCLC stage (P = 0.007, HR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.5 ~ 12.0), ENST00000418803 (P < 0.001, HR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1 ~ 0.5), lnc-EPS15L1-2:1 (P = 0.001, HR: 8.7, 95% CI: 2.5 ~ 30.6), and lnc-ZNF35-4:1 (P = 0.025, HR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1 ~ 0.9). The gene discussed is EPS15L1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.