Prognostic role of plasma level of angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 3 Univariate and multivariate analysis on the factors predictive for progression-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Variable	Univariate analysis		Multivariable analysis
	HR (95%CI)	P value	HR (95%CI)	P value
Ang-2 group (cut-off: Median level)
Low Ang-2 group	Reference	–	Reference	–
High Ang-2 group	2.53 (1.89–3.39)	< 0.001	1.55 (1.10–2.20)	0.01
VEGF group (cut-off: Median level)
Low VEGF group	Reference	–	Reference	–
High VEGF group	1.29 (0.97–1.71)	0.08	1.08 (0.80–1.46)	0.61
Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio	1.02 (0.98–1.05)	0.32	–	–
AFP (≥ 20 ng/mL)	2.27 (1.713.04)	< 0.001	1.54 (1.13–2.11)	0.007
Age	0.99 (0.98–1.01)	0.30	–	–
Male sex	1.32 (0.91–1.92)	0.15	–	–
BMI > 25 kg/m2	0.67 (0.50–0.91)	0.01	0.72 (0.53–0.97)	0.03
Presence of cirrhosis	1.04 (0.74–1.46)	0.81	–	–
Child-Pugh class B or C	2.17 (1.48–3.18)	< 0.001	1.54 (1.01–2.35)	0.05
NLR > 4	2.13 (1.45–3.12)	< 0.001	1.95 (1.23–3.08)	0.004
PLR > 150	2.05 (1.45–2.90)	< 0.001	1.02 (0.67–1.57)	0.93
TNM stage
I	Reference	–	Reference	–
II	1.94 (1.31–2.89)	0.001	1.75 (1.16–2.63)	0.008
III	5.47 (3.81–116.24)	< 0.001	4.35 (2.91–6.50)	< 0.001
IV	70.42 (15.00–330.6)	< 0.001	9.35 (5.00–17.46)	< 0.001

Cox proportional hazards model with a backward elimination approach was used for multivariable analysis. HR: Hazard ratio; CI: Confidence interval; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; AFP: Alpha fetoprotein; BMI: Body mass index; MELD: Model for end stage liver disease; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; TNM: Tumor-node-metastasis.