AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Current strategies for HCC diagnosis include imaging (CT/MRI), serum protein biomarkers (alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II, namely Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin) and histopathology, which are difficult to accurately diagnose early-stage HCC due to empirical limitations, restricted sensitivity or invasive detection modalities4,5.