A recently updated practice guideline for the management ofHCC by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recommendedthat surveillance of HCC be centered on US at 6-month intervals(8), because alpha-fetoproteindetermination lacks sensitivity and specificity for effective surveillance, whichappeared to justify the omission of alpha-fetoprotein testing from those newrecommendations for HCC surveillance. This evidence concerns the gene AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma.