Our study showed that high Axl expression in tumors increased HCC recurrence (HR: 3.85) and mortality (HR: 1.66) compared with low Axl expression and that high LC3 expression in tumors decreased HCC recurrence (HR: 0.38) and mortality (HR: 0.41) compared with low LC3 expression. Here, MAP1LC3A is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.