Based on comprehensive analysis of our previous results and literature review, we selected three HCC-related mRNAs (PLAC8, KLF6, and FOS) for further validation (Zou et al., 2016; Dang et al., 2019; Sydor et al., 2020; Sydor et al., 2020). Here, KLF6 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.