AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: As shown in Figure 1D, the proportions of patients with high SPC24 expression along with raised serum AFP was 43.40% (92/212), patients who had positive AFP results but not up-regulation of SPC24 was 11.79% (25/212), and patients with up-regulation of SPC24 alone was 29.72% (63/212), suggesting combined measurement of AFP and SPC24 may increase HCC diagnostic accuracy.