AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: 26 Moreover, the high serum level of AFP with high liver cell proliferative activity is associated with high rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients, further suggesting that cell proliferation occurring with high AFP secretion is essential for HCC development.27 In this study, the protein expressions of PCNA and Ki67 in HCC tissues in AKT/c-Met mice with high serum AFP levels were significantly decreased by celastrol (2 mg) treatment.