TGFBR1 and cancer: Our data reveals a number of cancer-related pathways and hub genes, including EIF4E, H2AFX, CREB1, GSK3B, TGFBR1, and CCNA2, that may be essential for eHCC progression and confirm our gene signature’s ability to detect the disease in its early stages in patients’ biological fluids instead of invasive procedures and its prognostic potential.