MMP9 and hepatitis A virus infection: In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, p < 0.2 on univariate analysis were included in multivariable model and we included gender, stage, AFP, hepatitis, and other clinically relevant factors which were important for prognosis, and the expression of MMP9 and ESR1 to determine whether MMP9, ESR1 was an independent factor for prognosis of HCC.