To investigate if an increase of COMP or GP73 levels further increases the likelihood of HCC development, we stratified each biomarker into three categories: (i) GP73 or COMP ≤ mean + SD, (ii) mean + SD < GP73 or COMP ≤ mean + 2SD, and (iii) GP73 or COMP > mean + 2SD. Here, GOLM1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.