MELK and neoplasm: In the multivariate Cox analysis, OS was found to be associated with MELK (MELK high vs. Low, HR 2.469; 95% CI 1.217–5.008, p = 0.012), age (age ≤ 60 vs. age > 60, HR 2.568; 95% CI 1.404–4.695; p = 0.002), vascular invasion (vascular invasion-positive vs. negative, HR = 2.031; 95% CI 1.067, 3.866, p = 0.031), tumor status (tumor-free vs. with tumor, HR 3.267; 95% CI 1.725–6.187, p < 0.001).