Table 3 Cox proportional hazard analysis for clinical variables in relationship to recurrence-free survival in AFP ≤ 35 ng/mL subgroup (n = 270)

 Age, per year

1.013

0.999 – 1.027

0.070

 Gender, Male = 1

1.796

1.102 – 2.926

0.019

 Anti-HCV, positive = 1

1.299

0.882 – 1.915

0.186

 HBsAg, positive = 1

0.867

0.597 – 1.259

0.454

 Liver cirrhosis, yes = 1

1.379

0.961 – 1.979

0.081

 Microvascular invasion, yes = 1

2.285

1.582 – 3.302

< 0.001

 Macrovascular invasion, yes = 1

2.003

1.181 – 3.398

0.010

 Histology grade, per grade

1.340

1.035 – 1.735

0.026

 Capsule, yes = 1

1.040

0.709 – 1.526

0.840

 Tumor number, per number

1.207

1.021 – 1.427

0.027

 Ascites yes = 1

2.309

1.169 – 4.561

0.016

 Alcoholism yes = 1

1.170

0.799 – 1.713

0.419

 Largest tumor size, per cm

0.997

0.970 – 1.025

0.838

 AFP, per ng/mL

1.034

1.014 – 1.055

0.001

 Albumin, per g/L

0.642

0.431 – 0.857

0.003

 Bilirubin, per mg/dL

0.919

0.765 – 1.105

0.371

 PT, per sec

1.074

0.966 – 1.195

0.187

 Creatinine, per mg/dL

1.039

0.884 – 1.220

0.645

 AST, per U/L

1.003

1.001 – 1.004

0.001

 ALT, per U/L

1.002

1.000 – 1.003

0.011

 Gender, Male = 1

1.997

1.198 – 3.327

0.008

 Microvascular invasion, yes = 1

2.057

1.381 – 3.062

< 0.001

 Macrovascular invasion, yes = 1

1.580

0.880 – 2.837

0.126

 Histology grade, per grade

1.075

0.816 – 1.417

0.606

 Tumor number, per number

1.137

0.948 – 1.362

0.166

 Ascites yes = 1

1.566

0.751 – 3.265

0.231

 AFP, per ng/mL

1.032

1.011 – 1.054

0.003

 Albumin, per g/L

0.709

0.521 – 0.964

0.028

 AST, per U/L

1.002

0.998 – 1.006

0.257

 ALT, per U/L

1.000

0.997 – 1.003

0.999