The unfolded protein response (UPR) was associated with carcinogenesis and progression of HCC, with multiple parameters of cell proliferation, including histological grade, MKI67 gene expression, and cell proliferation-related gene sets, with increased mutational load, but not with immune infiltration nor angiogenesis, and with worse survival across independent cohorts of HCC. This evidence concerns the gene MKI67 and hepatocellular carcinoma.