Although attempts have been made to predict recurrence and prognosis in HCC patients using clinical factors, such as positive portal vein thrombosis, large tumor size, increased serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), vascular invasion and advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, the long-term prognosis remains poor with reported 5-year survival rates ranging from 17% to 53% [3]. The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.