The results showed that high GSN expression in HCC was positively correlated with an advanced Edmondson grade (P=0.022), capsulation (P=0.006), and multiple tumour lesions (P=0.012); however, high GSN expression in HCC was not significantly associated with age, gender, a family history of HCC, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), cirrhosis, or tumour size (P > 0.05) (Table 1). Here, AFP is linked to neoplasm.