The performance of ACSL4 expression for distinguishing HCC from both normal tissue (AUC 0.967; CI: (0.939–0.995); sensitivity 93.8 %; specificity 93.6 %) was excellent, and it performed well in distinguishing HCC from CCA (AUC 0.796; CI (0.672–0.923); sensitivity 80.1 %; specificity 75.0 %). The gene discussed is ACSL4; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.