NES and metastatic neoplasm: This analysis indicated that advanced BCLC stage (HR = 1.892, P < 0.001) and high Nestin expression (HR = 1.973; P < 0.001) were independent predictive indicators of PFS, while advanced BCLC stage (HR = 1.811, P < 0.001), high Nestin expression (HR = 2.375; P < 0.001) and metastatic disease (HR = 1.557; P = 0.010) were found to be independent prognostic indicators of OS in HCC patients (Table 2).