AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Multivariate analysis (Table 4) revealed that besides AFP level (p = 0.001, HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.18–2.01), GGT level (p = 0.002, HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.16–1.92), tumor capsule (p = 0.016, HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.05–1.69) and tumor size (p < 0.001, HR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.40–2.27), postoperative TACE (p < 0.001, HR: 3.67, 95% CI: 2.85–4.71) and IFN-α treatment (p = 0.010, HR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.17–3.05), cholecystectomy (p = 0.005, HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.13–2.03) was also an independent risk factor for early recurrence of early stage HCC patients.