The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the most enriched pathways were 04151 (PI3K-Akt signalling pathway), 04022 (cGMP-PKG signalling pathway), 04020 (Calcium signalling pathway), 04611 (Platelet activation), and 04371 (Apelin signalling pathway), which were associated with tumourigenesis and HCC progression (Fig. 5d). This evidence concerns the gene APLN and hepatocellular carcinoma.