Notably, HCC tissues presented significantly increased expression of QSER1, MBD3, UNG, DNMT3B, DNMT3A, SMUG1, MBD4, DNMT1, MBD2, TET1, TDG, MBD1, UHRF2, MECP2, ZBTB38, ZBTB33, TET3 and UHRF1. Only NTHL1 was expressed at significantly lower levels in HCC tumor tissue. This evidence concerns the gene SMUG1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.