As shown in Additional file 5: Table S4, miR-500a-3p expression was positively associated with AFP expression level (P = 0.026), tumor size (P = 0.041), venous invasion (P = 0.029), distant metastasis (P = 0.006) and clinical stage (P = 0.010) in HCC patients. The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.