In addition, though TMPRSS4 expression in HCC was significantly correlated with tumor staging, the survival rates of TMPRSS4 positive patients in early stage (TNM stage I-II) were still significantly reduced compared with TMPRSS4 negative patients in the same stage, suggesting that TMPRSS4 may also be a promising marker for poor prognosis in early stage HCC patients. Here, TMPRSS4 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.