As shown in our analysis, the diagnostic performance of the GALAD score is strongly hampered in early stages (BCLC 0/A) of HCC (AUC: 0.8081), in patients within Milan criteria (AUC: 0.8583), in patients with low (<10 or 20 ng/mL) AFP levels (AUC: 0.7819 and 0.8054, respectively), and in subjects suffering from alcoholic liver disease (AUC: 0.8520). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.