As shown in Table 3, multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors associated with poor overall survival in Child–Pugh grade A patients with HCC were non-HCV carrier (hazard ratio [HR] 1.590, P < 0.001), albumin levels ≤4 g/dL (HR 1.610, P < 0.001), AST >45 U/L (HR 1.667, P < 0.001), AFP >20 ng/mL (HR 2.046, P < 0.001), multinodularity (HR 1.288, P = 0.033), tumor size > 3 cm (HR 1.797, P < 0.001), the presence of vascular invasion (HR 2.646, P < 0.001), and noncurative treatment (HR 2.498, P < 0.001). Here, ALB is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.