Comparative analysis of the diagnostic values for combinations of four markers with AFP suggested APF-HMMR, HMMR-NXPH4 and HMMR-PITX1 pairs and AFP-HMMR-PITX, HMMR-NXPH4-PITX1 and HMMR-PITX1-THBS4 triplets to be superior in the diagnosis of HCC compared with AFP alone (Table 2). Here, NXPH4 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.