AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Many researchers have found that AFP is anti-apoptotic7, 8 and plays an important role in promoting proliferation9 and resisting the cytotoxicity of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) and all trans retinoic acid (ATRA)10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and other drugs, such as tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis induced-ligand (TRAIL), in HCC cells15.