We analyzed the gene transcriptional profiles of percutaneous normal liver specimens, obtained under local anesthesia from 14 adults with mildly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase activity in whom all causes of liver disease had been ruled out (medication, alcohol, chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune processes, and metabolic disease) compared with nontumoral liver biopsies obtained from 14 adults during surgery for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer or benign liver tumors. The gene discussed is GPT; the disease is metastasis.