In multivariate analysis, HCC recurrence was significantly associated with low LC3 expression in tumor and ANT tissues, HCC tissues only and ANT tissues only (hazard ratio/95% confidence interval: 6.12/2.473–17.53, 4.18/1.285–13.61, and 1.89/1.299–2.757) and macrovascular invasion (1.63/1.043–2.492) and cirrhosis (1.59/1.088–2.326). The gene discussed is MAP1LC3A; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.