The serum anti-DHCR24 antibodies levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) than in healthy controls and, interestingly, in early HCV-induced HCC than CHC or liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and in late HCV-induced HCC compared to early HCC-C patients, which demonstrates a stage-related overexpression of DHCR24. The gene discussed is DHCR24; the disease is laryngotracheoesophageal cleft.