Several biomarkers of nutritional status such as the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score can predict long-term outcomes in various cancers.5–7 These indices are also useful for evaluating the prognosis of HCC.8–10 The Child–Pugh and albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) scores, which reflect liver function, are also known to be predictive of long-term prognosis for patients with HCC.11,12 However, some of these indices involve complex calculations and cannot be considered simple scoring systems. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is cancer.