Interestingly, C4A and MDK are previously characterized circulating biomarkers for HCC [1] whereas SERPINC1 (also prioritized as a potential biomarker in our study) is an interacting partner of AFP, C8A, F2, UPB1, F10, AHSG, APOA5, APOC3 and IGFBP1 (involved in cancer progression) (Fig 4). This evidence concerns the gene APOA5 and hepatocellular carcinoma.