Although no significant difference in the rate of ANXA2 expression (χ2=3.518; P=0.070) was found between the HCC and adjacent groups, the intensity of ANXA2 expression in the HCC group was significantly higher compared with that of the adjacent (Z=6.113; P<0.001) or distant cancerous groups (Z=7.328; P<0.001). Here, ANXA2 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.