Univariate analysis revealed that tumour size (HR = 3.415, P = 0.009), intrahepatic metastasis (HR = 1.212, P = 0.041), TNM stage (HR = 3.380,P = 0.015), vascular invasion (HR = 2.323, P = 0.049), tumour differentiation (HR = 1.203, P = 0.019) and PKM2 expression (HR = 2.537, P = 0.028) were significantly associated with RFS in cirrhotic HCC (Table 2). This evidence concerns the gene PKM and hepatocellular carcinoma.