In this study, we enriched glycoprotein fractions in serum samples from Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection and early HCC and in serum samples from healthy controls; the serum samples were enriched by lectin affinity chromatography with Maackia amurensis lectin (MAL), which could bind with the Siaα2,3 Gal structure. This evidence concerns the gene MAL and hepatocellular carcinoma.