Both others and our group have reported that MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 transcripts were highly expressed in HCC tissues, but not in non-HCC liver tissues, nor in non-HCC liver diseases such as HBV/HCV infection and cirrhosis (Cai et al, 1999, 2000; Chen et al, 1999; Tahara et al, 1999; Yamashita et al, 1996). Here, MAGEA3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.