Tumor size (P = 0.002), cirrhosis (P = 0.041), BCLC stage (P = 0.050, 0.004 and < 0.001 for A stage, B stage and C stage, respectively), serum AFP (P = 0.049) and TNM stage (P = 0.005 and < 0.001 for II stage and III or IV stage, respectively) were statistically significant for OS in HCC patients. Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.