In addition, 13 upregulated proteins, LGALS3, CREG1, S100A4, IGLV1-51, PPIA, LGALS1, RNASE4, IL18, GZMK, TTR, PLTP, B2M and IFI30, were annotated as secreted proteins, which implies these may be candidates for early biomarkers for fibrosis or HCC diagnosis (Fig. 5f). This evidence concerns the gene LGALS1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.