Single biomarkers: miR-122 expression, AFP levels and TERT C228T mutation) showed a poor or moderate diagnostic performance in differentiating HCC from LC (AUC = 0.73, 0.75, and 0.61, respectively), HCC from CHB (AUC = 0.88, 0.84, and 0.61, respectively) and HCC from non-HCC (AUC = 0.82, 0.81, and 0.61, respectively) (Fig. 2). This evidence concerns the gene TERT and hepatocellular carcinoma.