In the multivariate analysis, cirrhosis (aHR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.01–1.63), diabetes (aHR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.01–1.87), HBeAg positivity (aHR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.16–1.89), higher AFP level (aHR = 1.00, 95% CI 1.00–1.00), multiple tumors (aHR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.15–1.95), and larger tumor size (aHR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.20–1.93) were independently associated with the increased risk of HCC recurrence (all P<0.05) (S3 Table). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is diabetes mellitus.