CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein with multiple isoforms, has been implicated in cancer progression and immune modulation.<h4>Methods</h4>We analysed CD44 expression in mouse models of chronic and acute liver injury and assessed its clinical relevance in human HCC using bulk and single-cell transcriptomic datasets.<h4>Results</h4>CD44 and its isoforms v6 and v10 were progressively upregulated in chronic liver injury, peaking in HCC. The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.