Although some HCC biomarkers, such as C − X − C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5), high mobility group box 1 (hmgb1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1) demonstrate high sensitivity in detection, they show poor correlation with prognosis, and many have not yet been established for routine clinical use (Zhou et al., 2012; Liu et al., 2012; Li et al., 2012; European Association for the Study of the Liver, 2012). This evidence concerns the gene HMGB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.