Before PSM, univariate analyses in HCC patients with PVTT indicated that tumor size (HR, 1.561; 95% CI, 1.227‐1.985; P < .001) and liver cirrhosis (HR, 1.347; 95% CI, 1.078‐1.682; P = .009) were independently associated with tumor recurrence; tumor size (HR, 2.445; 95% CI, 1.813‐3.298; P < .001), AFP level (HR, 1.599; 95%CI, 1.254‐2.038; P < .001), HBV DNA (HR, 1.526; 95%CI, 1.187‐1.962; P = .001), GGT (HR, 1.573; 95% CI: 1.171‐2.114; P = .003) and PT (HR, 1.424; 95%CI, 1.048‐1.935; P = .024) were independently associated with overall survival. Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.