AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Since the majority of cases of HCC arise from livers diseased with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, caused by infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), regular screening of these patients using ultrasonography (US) and tumor markers, including α-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), is required for the detection of HCC at an early stage (4).