In cases of low serum TGF-α (≤20 pg/mL), PDGF-BB (≤300 pg/mL), and CXCL9 (≤100 pg/mL), HCC patients who received HAIC showed similar survival rates compared to those treated with sorafenib (Additional file 3: Figure S3). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL9 and hepatocellular carcinoma.