Of note, C3a was identified by mass spectrometry and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) of serum samples obtained from HCV-HCC, chronic HCV, HBV-HCC, chronic HBV, and healthy subjects as a differentially expressed biomarker protein with significantly higher levels among HCV-HCC patients compared to the other groups (32). This evidence concerns the gene C3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.