Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of NR3C1 (encoding for the glucocorticoid receptor, GR), HNF1A, and NANOG gene expression indicated that NANOG up-regulation was the most correlated with both high serum AFP concentration and AFP mRNA transcript abundance in Peruvian HCC patients, whereas NR3C1 up-regulation was associated with lower serum AFP levels (Fig. 6B). This evidence concerns the gene HNF1A and hepatocellular carcinoma.