According to the ratio of the mRNA expression levels between the tumorous and non-tumorous tissues, the 47 HCC samples were divided into two groups: the ALDH1A1-mRNA-low group (in tumor ≤ in adjacent non-tumorous tissue, n = 22) and the ALDH1A1-mRNA-high group (in tumor > in adjacent non-tumorous tissue, n = 25). The gene discussed is ALDH1A1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.