AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Taken together, these results indicated that β-catenin, its upstream regulator p-Ser9-GSK-3β and downstream target gene GS, as well as HCC-related gene AFP, were upregulated in chronic HCV infection and HCV-induced HCC specimens, suggesting that Wnt/β-catenin signaling may play an important role in the development of HCV-induced HCC.