Aberrant methylation of SPARC in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical implication

Table 5 Correlation between methylation status and clinicopathological data

Parameters	n	Methylated	Unmethylated	P value
Age (yr)				0.766
> 53	30	23	7
≤ 53	30	22	8
Gender				0.835
Male	51	38	13
Female	9	7	2
Tumor size (cm)				1.000
≤ 5	20	15	5
> 5	40	30	10
Virus infection				0.661
HBV or HCV	52	40	12
Negative	8	5	3
Liver function				1.000
Child-Pugh A	46	35	11
Child-Pugh B	14	10	4
AFP (μg/L)				0.125
≤ 400	35	29	6
> 400	23	15	8
Tumor number				0.174
Single	35	24	11
Multiple	25	21	4
Vascular invasion				0.122
Positive	22	19	3
Negative	38	26	12
Edmondson classification				0.019
I/II	21	12	9
III/IV	39	33	6

HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; AFP: Alpha-fetal protein.