AFP predicted HCC recurrence in patients (1) beyond the Milan criteria (p < 0.001; optimal cutoff 200 ng/ml); (2) within the UCSF criteria (p = 0.001; optimal cutoff 100 ng/ml) and beyond them (p = 0.015; optimal cutoff 200 ng/ml); and (3) within the Up-to-7 criteria (p = 0.001; optimal cutoff 100 ng/ml) and beyond them (p = 0.023; optimal cutoff 100 ng/ml) but not in patients within the Milan criteria (p = 0.834). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.