Univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis found incident HCC to be significantly associated with baseline low platelet count (hazard ratio (HR) = 7.3 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.1–24.9), high serum alpha-fetoprotein level (HR = 2.7 (95% CI 1.0–7.1)) and alcohol consumption above fourteen units weekly (HR = 3.1 (95% CI 1.1–8.7)). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.