In addition, networkreconstruction and analysis identified several key genes(NFKB1, MMP9, BCL2, A4, CDN1A, CDK1, ERBB2, G3P,MCL1, FOXO1) that both display differential expression inmalignant versus healthy hepatocytes and function as hubsof the hepatocyte apoptosis network in HCC. This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma.