AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Most of them experienced amplification and higher mRNA expression of DUSP12. HCC patients with a DUSP12 mutation had shorter survival, higher serum level of AFP, and worse histology grade than those of patients with wild-type DUSP12. Taken together, these findings suggest the probability of an intimate correlation between DUSP12 mutation and the pathology and prognosis of DUSP12 in HCC.