Title: Methylated SEPT9 combined with AFP and PIVKA-II is effective for the detection of
HCC in high-risk population
Version: 0 Date: 28 May 2023
Reviewer:  Mohamed Omran
Reviewer's report:
It’s my pleasure to be a referee to the manuscript titled “Methylated SEPT9 combined with AFP
and PIVKA-II is effective for opportunistic screening of HCC in high-risk population
In the present manuscript, the authors evaluated the prognostic value of methylated SEPT9
combined with AFP and PIVKA-II in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
There are so many selection and information biases that preclude it from being accepted in its
present form in the journal unless the authors review and change all the suggestions made by
the reviewers and me.
- The introduction section must be more focused on the diagnostic performance of methylated
SEPT9 combined with AFP and PIVKA-II.
All material and methods sections without reference
Information bias: Were the investigators who assessed these measures blinded by clinical data,
including if the patients had or did not have HCC?
- Clinical and routine laboratory data of HCC not present especially etiological factors
- AUROC cut-offs: How were the best cut-offs selected? Sensitive or specific?
-  Discussion section must present similar studies with details about other biomarkers' diagnostic
performances.
Title: Methylated SEPT9 combined with AFP and PIVKA-II is effective for the detection of
HCC in high-risk population
Version: 0 Date: 28 May 2023
Reviewer:  Mohamed Omran
Reviewer's report:
It’s my pleasure to be a referee to the manuscript titled “Methylated SEPT9 combined with AFP
and PIVKA-II is effective for opportunistic screening of HCC in high-risk population
In the present manuscript, the authors evaluated the prognostic value of methylated SEPT9
combined with AFP and PIVKA-II in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
There are so many selection and information biases that preclude it from being accepted in its
present form in the journal unless the authors review and change all the suggestions made by
the reviewers and me.
- The introduction section must be more focused on the diagnostic performance of methylated
SEPT9 combined with AFP and PIVKA-II.
All material and methods sections without reference
Information bias: Were the investigators who assessed these measures blinded by clinical data,
including if the patients had or did not have HCC?
- Clinical and routine laboratory data of HCC not present especially etiological factors
- AUROC cut-offs: How were the best cut-offs selected? Sensitive or specific?
-  Discussion section must present similar studies with details about other biomarkers' diagnostic
performances.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Methylated SEPT9 combined with AFP and PIVKA-II is effective for the detection of
HCC in high-risk population
Version: 0 Date: 28 May 2023
Reviewer:  Mohamed Omran
Reviewer's report:
It’s my pleasure to be a referee to the manuscript titled “Methylated SEPT9 combined with AFP
and PIVKA-II is effective for opportunistic screening of HCC in high-risk population
In the present manuscript, the authors evaluated the prognostic value of methylated SEPT9
combined with AFP and PIVKA-II in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
There are so many selection and information biases that preclude it from being accepted in its
present form in the journal unless the authors review and change all the suggestions made by
the reviewers and me.
- The introduction section must be more focused on the diagnostic performance of methylated
SEPT9 combined with AFP and PIVKA-II.
All material and methods sections without reference
Information bias: Were the investigators who assessed these measures blinded by clinical data,
including if the patients had or did not have HCC?
- Clinical and routine laboratory data of HCC not present especially etiological factors
- AUROC cut-offs: How were the best cut-offs selected? Sensitive or specific?
-  Discussion section must present similar studies with details about other biomarkers' diagnostic
performances.
assistant