Patients were categorized into three groups based on median TUG1 and AFP mRNA levels in HCC tumors, with Group I consisting of 53 patients with low TUG1 and low AFP, Group II including 54 patients with low TUG1 and high AFP or high TUG1 and low AFP, and Group III comprising 53 patients with high TUG1 and high AFP. Notably, patients in Group III showed significantly poorer OS and RFS relative to those in Groups I and II (Figure 5A). Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.