AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: We investigated driver lncRNA candidates by a comparative analysis of lncRNA expression profiles and identified that panels of four serum EV‐lncRNAs, EV‐MALAT1, EV‐DLEU2, EV‐HOTTIP, and EV‐SNHG1, with or without AFP, showed high positivity rates (86–96%) in very early‐stage HCC, thus highlighting their potential as promising diagnostic liquid biopsy markers.