Traditional predictors of outcomes among patients with resectable HCC have included morphologic (i.e., maximum tumor size and nodularity, collectively known as “tumor burden”) and pathologic (i.e., tumor grade, microvascular invasion, liver capsule invasion, etc.)characteristics, as well as serum biomarkers (i.e., α-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin, bilirubin etc.). This evidence concerns the gene AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma.