In the multivariate analysis, the independent prognostic factors in HCC patients were serum albumin (hazard ratio [HR] 1.565; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.000–2.452; P = 0.050), tumor number (HR, 1.931; 95 % CI 1.170–3.186; P = 0.010), tumor size (HR, 1.854; 95 % CI 1.114–3.085; P = 0.017), vascular invasion (HR 2.291; 95 % CI 1.340–3.915; P = 0.002), liver cirrhosis (HR 1.755; 95 % CI 1.116–2.761; P = 0.014), and Wnt5a/ROR2 expression (Wnt5a−ROR2− vs Wnt5a+ROR2+: HR 2.058; 95 % CI 1.013–4.180; P = 0.045) (Table 4). Here, ROR2 is linked to neoplasm.