AHSG and hepatocellular carcinoma: After RNA extraction, RNA concentrations were evaluated by Bioanalyzer 2100, (Supplementary Table 9), then RT-ddPCR was carried out to quantify the 10 HCC-specific genes, i.e., alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), glypican 3 (GPC3), albumin (ALB), apolipoprotein H (APOH), fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1), fibrinogen beta chain (FGB), fibrinogen gamma chain (FGG), alpha 2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG), retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), and transferrin (TF)39.