A meta-analysis3 focusing on the association between galactoglucan lectin levels and the risk of different liver diseases found that plasma Gal-9 levels were significantly higher in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma than in healthy controls; additionally, low Gal-9 expression predicted a worse prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This evidence concerns the gene LGALS9 and hepatocellular carcinoma.