AQP5 and hepatitis B virus infection: To evaluate whether AQP3 protein expression and AQP5 protein expression were associated with clinicopathological features of patients with HCC, we correlated immunohistochemical AQP3 and AQP5 staining results with tumor stage, tumor grade, serum AFP level, presence of cirrhosis, and underlying liver disease including alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis B and C, sex, and age (Table 1).