This was not as robust as conventional HCC‐associated serum protein markers, including α‐fetoprotein (AFP;AUC = 0.929; p < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; AUC = 0.848; p = 0.005), and albumin (AUC = 0.974; p < 0.001). Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.