AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: However, we believe that FUT8 induction and AFP-L3 production could be stimulated by other signals such as LEF-1/TCF, which has been previously reported to be an inducer of FUT8, in later stages of HCC.[9] In the early stages of HCC, activated p53 may induce FUT8 in response to stress, viral infection, or other cytotoxic events, suggesting that AFP-L3 may be a useful marker for diagnosing early stages of HCC.