Univariate analysis showed that AFP > 400 μg/L, intraoperative blood loss > 400 ml, intraoperative blood transfusion, tumor diameter > 5 cm, pathological grade III/IV, satellite lesions, microvascular invasion, and macrovascular invasion were risk factors for RFS and OS in HCC patients with liver cirrhosis after hepatectomy, while female, age, smoking history, and drinking history were risk factors for RFS, NLR > 1.5 and hepatic port occlusion time > 20 min were risk factors affecting postoperative OS. Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.