AFP has been useful in the diagnosis of HCC in clinical practice but lacks specificity as it is often elevated in cirrhotic patients without HCC, in the presence of non-HCC tumors (such as testicular germinal tumors, cholangiocarcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma) and during liver regeneration following hepatic resection or recovery from massive hepatic necrosis [35]. Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.