Compared to patients with serum kynurenine levels <600 ng/mL, patients with serum kynurenine levels of ≥900 ng/mL were older (72 vs. 69 years, p<0.01) and had lower albumin levels (3.6 vs. 3.8 g/dL, p<0.05), higher tumor marker scores (AFP: 53 vs. 22 ng/mL, p<0.001; DCP: 143 vs. 43 mAU/mL, p<0.05), and a greater percentage of patients in advanced BCLC stages (BCLC B, C, D: 50.8% vs. 26.7%, p<0.001). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is neoplasm.