Although the prognostic significance of GPC3 or CK19 in patients with HCC has been emphasized, in view of the previous findings, we speculated that by combining the detection of CK19 and GPC3, a rather comprehensive sub-classification of HCC can be defined, which might develop an efficient stratification of the prognosis of HCC patients. The gene discussed is GPC3; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.