Based on a comprehensive expression analysis and survival analysis, 19 genes (ASPM, CCNA2, CDCA2, FAM83D, KIF2C, KIF20A, MCM2, MCM6, PRC1, TK1, TPX2, TROAP, AURKA, CDC20, CENPF, HJURP, KIF4A, MCM5, MELK, NCAPG, PTTG1, TOP2A, TRIP13 and UBE2T as a key gene that may be associated with HCC progression. The gene discussed is MCM5; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.