In the multivariate regression analysis, the association of promoters II+III with HCC metastasis was independent of age, sex, HBsAg status, liver cirrhosis, serum AFP level, Edmondson grade, tumor size, and TNM stage (for promoter II+III: 53.8% vs. 40.7%, P = 0.0004; OR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.16–2.21). Here, AFP is linked to cirrhosis of liver.