In conclusion, our results provide novel and compelling evidence to support that the cellular machinery that regulates the splicing process (spliceosome components and splicing factors) is strongly dysregulated in HCC, and that certain spliceosome components (EIF4A3, ESRP2, SRPK1 and RBM3) could provide novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in HCC. This evidence concerns the gene ESRP2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.