Prognostic value of serum microRNA-122 in hepatocellular carcinoma is dependent on coexisting clinical and laboratory factors

Figure 3 Survival analysis in relation to alpha-fetoprotein, Child-Pugh score, Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage and serum microRNA-122 level. A: Survival analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in relation to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) [divided into three groups: patients with regular AFP (< 7 ng/mL, n = 33), patients with slightly (7 ng/mL ≤ AFP ≤ 400 ng/mL, n = 33) and patients with clearly increased AFP (> 400 ng/mL, n = 25)]; B: Survival analysis in HCC patients in relation to Child-Pugh score [divided into three groups: patients without cirrhosis (n = 16), patients with Child-Pugh class A (n = 45), and patients with Child-Pugh class B or C (n = 30), class B and class C were summarized, because only a few patients were in the more severe class (n = 3)]; C: Survival analysis in HCC patients in relation to Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) staging system [divided into three groups: patients with BCLC A (n = 16), with BCLC B (n = 37), with BCLC C or D (n = 38), BCLC C and BCLC D were summarized, because only a few patients were in the more severe stage (n = 6)]; D: Survival analysis in HCC patients in relation to serum miR-122 level [divided into three groups: < 25^th percentile (n = 22), 25^th-75^th percentile (n = 46), ≥ 75^th percentile (n = 23)]. Nonparametric log-rank test was used for statistical analysis. ^bP < 0.01: AFP normal vs AFP slightly increased vs AFP clearly increased; ^dP < 0.01 No liver cirrhosis vs Child A vs Child B or C; ^fP < 0.01 BCLC A vs BCLC B vs BCLC C or D. BCLC: Barcelona clinic liver cancer; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.