Toward this goal, here, we evaluate the possible clinical utility of circulating angiogenic markers (VEGF, Ang-1, Ang-2, the angiopoietin receptor (Tie1/2), HGF, and PECAM-1), first in cirrhotic and HCC patients separately, and then comparing cirrhotic patients with and without HCC. The gene discussed is HGF; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.