Do the expressions of gap junction gene connexin messenger RNA in noncancerous liver remnants of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma correlate with postoperative recurrences?

Table 3 Comparison of characteristics of primary HCC between different levels of connexin 32 mRNA in noncancerous liver tissues.

Characteristics	Group A (n = 64,%)	Group B (n = 15,%)	P
Age (mean, yr)	52.3	48.8	N.S.
Male	65.6	66.7	N.S.
Liver cirrhosis	68.8	73.3	N.S.
Child- Pugh’s class A	76.6	53.3	N.S.
Tumor size <3 cm	35.9	40
>10 cm	34.4	13.3	N.S.
HBsAg (+)	53.1	46.6	N.S.
Anti-HCV (+)	78.1	66.7	N.S.
Serum AFP <20 ng/mL	21.9	40
>1000 ng/mL	37.5	40	N.S.
Tumor necrosis	76.6	53.3	N.S.
Tumor hemorrhage	35.9	40	N.S.
Edmondson-Steiner grade Ia	1.6	20	0.02
Capsule incomplete or absentb	78.1	40	0.009
Daughter nodules	60.9	33.3	0.053
Vascular permeationc	76.6	40	0.011

Low Cx 32 mRNA: <0.800 (group A), high Cx 32 mRNA: ≥0.800 (group B). P: The P value of univariate analysis. a, b, and c: the significant variables in multivariate analysis with P values of 0.0120, 0.0420 and 0.019 respectively. AFP: alpha-fetoprotein, NS: no statistical significance.