AFP and hepatitis C virus infection: However, several on-treatment factors can affect survival of HCC patients, such as treatment response, AFP levels after treatment, tumor recurrence, and subsequent treatment.[13] Likewise, recurrence of underlying disease (e.g., hepatitis C) and recurrence of tumor can affect long-term outcomes in patients who received LT.[26] HCC is notorious for its high recurrence rate, and treatment of recurrence affects long-term outcome,[27] yet this study analyzed the initial treatment only.