By performing the subgroup survival analysis, we found no significant correlation between MMP1 expression and T2–T4 stage, M1 stage, pathologic stage II-IV, R1&2 resection, AFP > 400, albumin < 3.5, prothrombin > 4, Child–Pugh B&C, vascular invasion, fibrosis ishak score 0–4 (all due to small sample size), tumor-free, gender of female and BMI > 25. Here, AFP is linked to neoplasm.