AFP and neoplasm: Currently, AFP is the only serum marker for the diagnosis of HCC, but the sensitivity is low (25–65%), especially for the detection of early HCC.[21–23] AFP alone is not ideal for the monitoring or diagnosis of HCC.[24] Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new molecular markers, and verify if they can be used for the early detection of the disease, the prediction of the occurrence and development of the disease, as well as the recurrence of the tumor.