AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: For this reason, UK (Ryder, 2003), European (Bruix et al, 2001) and American (Bruix and Sherman, 2005) clinical guidelines recommend routine surveillance for HCC among individuals with cirrhosis, and approximately three-quarters of UK gastroenterologists undertake such a programme, mostly using a combination of periodic serum α-foetoprotein (AFP) testing and ultrasound (US) (Lai et al, 2002).