The expression of CENPA, E2F1, FOXM1, HMGA1, HMGB2, MYBL2, TCF19 and ZIC2 was upregulated and ESR1 was downregulated in HCC samples compared with normal tissues based on the GSE64041 and GSE54236 datasets (Fig. 7C, D). This evidence concerns the gene E2F1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.