As is shown in Table 2, sST2 had no significant correlation with age, AFP, TS, WBC count, Hb, PLT count, ALB, TBIL, ALT, AST, GGT, HBV-DNA copies, PT, APTT, or INR in the whole HCC group (P > 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and hepatocellular carcinoma.