Moreover, both sAxl/alb and Gas6/alb ratios significantly increased during HCC progression by comparison of early BCLC stages (BCLC 0 + A) with late BCLC D (Fig. 4C), whereas changes in sAxl and Gas6 levels were non-significant (Supplementary Fig. S2C). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.