After 2 weeks of sorafenib treatment, the increased levels of inhibitory factors, including sPD-1, sCTLA-4, sBTLA, and sLAG-3 and the decreased levels of stimulatory factors, such as sCD27, possibly reflect the dynamic changes of the immune systems in patients with HCC. The gene discussed is HOXD13; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.