Are gap junction gene connexins 26, 32 and 43 of prognostic values in hepatocellular carcinoma? A prospective study

Table 4 Predictors of HCC recurrence

Variable	P values
	UV	MV
Sex	1.000	-
Age (yr)	0.030	0.071
Tumor diameter	0.250	-
(< 3 cm, > 10 cm)
Liver cirrhosis	0.009	0.067
Child-Pugh class	0.528	-
Serum AFP	0.744	-
HBsAg (+)	1.000	-
Anti-HCV (+)	1.000	-
Edmondson Steiner grade	< 0.001	0.033
Capsule	< 0.001	0.050
Vascular permeation	< 0.001	0.046
Daughter nodules	< 0.001	0.046
Tumor necrosis	0.046	-
Tumor hemorrhage	0.046	-
Connexin 26 mRNA	< 0.001	0.033
Connexin 32 mRNA	< 0.001	0.033
Connexin 43 mRNA	0.280	0.071

UV: Univariate analysis; MV: Multivariate analysis; AFP: Serum alpha fetoprotein; HbsAg (+): Positive hepatitis B sur-face antigen; Anti-HCV (+): Positive hepatitis C virus antibody; Edmondson Steiner grade: Differentiation grades I, II vs III, IV.