Compared to patients with SALL4-negative HCC, they were significantly younger (mean 59.2 years vs. 65.2 years, P < 0.001), more frequently female (44.7% vs. 18.3%, P < 0.001) and positive for HBs-Ag (42.6% vs. 18.6%, P < 0.001), and had a lower frequency of diabetes mellitus (12.8% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.031). Here, SALL4 is linked to diabetes mellitus.