Although AFP showed the best diagnostic utility with the highest AUC value in the late stage patients (0.906, 95%CI = 0.850–0.962, Fig. 3J), diagnostic value of miR-3126-5p was always effective for all stages of HCC patients (AUC = 0.913 for early stage, and AUC = 0.855 for late stage). This evidence concerns the gene AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma.