Hsp90α was more valuable for distinguishing HCC from non-liver cancer controls than AFP, with an AUROC of 0.965, sensitivity of 93.3%, and specificity of 90.3% (for AFP, AUROC 0.887, sensitivity 61.1%, specificity 96.3%) and exhibited a remarkable discriminating performance in early-stage liver cancer (AUROC 0.963, sensitivity 91.4%, specificity 91.3%) and in ANHC (AUROC 0.971, sensitivity 93.9%, and specificity 91.3%); similar results were observed in small liver cancers. Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.