AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Based on recent studies, the serum CRP levels are correlated with the poor prognosis in HCC: Chun et al. found that CRP can predict overall survival and recurrence rates after hepatectomy in patients with HCC patients [31]; Na et al. found that CRP was independently associated with OS in non-surgical HCC patients [32]; and She et al. found that CRP is a biomarker of AFP-negative HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma [5].