Table 5 Cox proportional hazard analysis for clinical variables in relationship to metastasis-free survival in AFP ≤ 35 ng/mL subgroup (n = 270)

 Age, per year

1.017

0.992 – 1.042

0.188

 Gender, Male = 1

3.572

1.104 – 11.553

0.034

 Anti-HCV, positive = 1

1.208

0.618 – 2.360

0.581

 HBsAg, positive = 1

0.866

0.456 – 1.643

0.660

 Liver cirrhosis, yes = 1

1.125

0.610 – 2.074

0.707

 Microvascular invasion, yes = 1

2.742

1.491 – 5.041

0.001

 Macrovascular invasion, yes = 1

4.081

1.999 – 8.332

< 0.001

 Histology grade, per grade

1.473

0.951 – 2.281

0.083

 Capsule, yes = 1

0.980

0.511- 1.880

0.952

 Tumor number, per number

1.308

1.007 – 1.700

0.044

 Ascites yes = 1

1.048

0.253 – 4.348

0.948

 Alcoholism yes = 1

1.043

0.535 – 2.033

0.9903

 Largest tumor size, per cm

1.009

0.973 – 1.047

0.613

 AFP, per ng/mL

1.037

1.003 – 1.073

0.035

 Albumin, per g/L

0.740

0.442 – 1.239

0.252

 Bilirubin, per mg/dL

0.954

0.713 – 1.275

0.748

 PT, per sec

1.084

0.903 – 1.302

0.385

 Creatinine, per mg/dL

0.891

0.567 – 1.399

0.615

 AST, per U/L

1.001

0.998 – 1.004

0.534

 ALT, per U/L

1.000

0.996 – 1.003

0.787

 Gender, Male = 1

3.413

1.042 – 11.183

0.043

 Microvascular invasion, yes = 1

2.687

1.426 – 5.060

0.002

 Macrovascular invasion, yes = 1

4.209

1.867 – 9.490

0.001

 Tumor number, per number

1.004

0.749 – 1.347

0.977

 AFP, per ng/mL

1.052

1.015 – 1.089

0.005