AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Among 100 participants, including 40 HCC patients, 30 liver cirrhosis patients, and 30 controls, MDK was found to be significantly upregulated in HCC patients compared with both liver cirrhosis patients and controls but showed no association with tumor diameter, number of nodules, AFP levels, or Barcelona Clinic liver cancer (BCLC) staging, which is widely used for staging primary liver cancer.