AFP and laryngotracheoesophageal cleft: In addition, TIPE2 mRNA was found to be significantly positively correlated with TBIL and the MELD score in LC patients (r = 0.288, P = 0.033; r = 0.366, P < 0.01) (Fig. 5) and negatively correlated with serum AFP levels in HCC patients (r = 0.312, P < 0.05) (Fig. 6).