Other alternative biomarkers have been proposed, such as AFP-L3 (Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein or highly sensitive -hs-AFP-L3) (10) and PIVKA-II (Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II) (11), but the levels of these two proteins typically increase as HCC develops and progresses to portal vein invasion (11). Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.