On the other hand, there was no difference in IgM-free AIM levels between patients with different cancer stages (Online Resource 10), and no correlation was seen between IgM-free AIM and age regardless of the presence of HCC and non-HCC (Online Resource 11), indicating that the stage of cancer and the age are independent of IgM-free AIM level. This evidence concerns the gene CD40LG and hepatocellular carcinoma.