The risk factors for HCC recurrence in univariate analysis were; AFP >400 ng/mL (P = 0.01), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio ≥4 (P = 0.03), moderate/poor differentiated tumor (P = 0.01), pathological tumor grades III and IV (P = 0.03), and microvascular invasion (P = 0.01). Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.