However, the reliability using them as tumour markers have been challenged, because both albumin and α-FP are abundantly expressed in normal liver cells, they are released to the peripheral blood by either surgical injury of the liver for the disease other than HCC or by hepatitis virus infection (Chou et al, 1994; Jiang et al, 1997; Lemoine et al, 1997; Malek et al, 1999; Wong et al, 1997). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and hepatocellular carcinoma.