Diagnostic significance of serum AFP, CCT8, and CFL1 in diagnosing HCC in the validation cohort comprised of 34 normal individuals, 25 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 33 patients with liver cirrhosis, and 132 patients with HCC. (a,b) Expression level of serum (a) CCT8 and (b) CFL-1 according to clinical liver disease status. (Welch’s t-test; * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001) (c) AUC of serum AFP and two serum protein markers in diagnosing HCC. (Welch’s t-test; ** p < 0.01) (d) Diagnostic performance of serum protein panels for hepatocellular carcinoma in the validation cohort. (Welch’s t-test; * p < 0.05).