The combination of the 4-peak UPLC-MS algorithm with AFP in the range of 20 ng/mL was able to distinguish HCC from LC with an accuracy of 79.0 % (95 % CI 67.4–87.3 %), a sensitivity of 75 % (95 % CI 57.9–86.8 %), and a specificity of 83.3 % (95 % CI: 66.4–92.7 %). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.