We further divided the HCC cohort based on IHC staining of SHMT1 protein on HCC specimens and found that negative staining of SHMT1 in HCC tissues was correlated with higher AFP level (P = 0.016, Additional file 2: Table S1), vascular invasion (P = 0.002, Additional file 2: Table S1) and advanced TNM stage (P = 0.006, Additional file 2: Table S1). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.