For multivariate analysis, pathological subtype, CK7 and CK19 expression were respectively included into a Cox proportional hazard model with the tumor diameter, AFP and CA199, which significantly related to RFS, but the results showed that pathological subtype, CK7 or CK19 expression were not significantly related to HCC RFS (all P > 0.05) (Fig. 3A–C, Table 6). This evidence concerns the gene KRT19 and hepatocellular carcinoma.