The prognostic value of lower HPN expression was substantiated by a remarkably shortened OS of HCC patients (by 34.5%) from the TCGA database (1397 vs 2131 days, P = 0.0056) (Fig. 5a) and poor prognosis from the GEPIA database (HR = 0.68, P = 0.03) (Fig. 5b). This evidence concerns the gene HPN and hepatocellular carcinoma.