In univariate analysis, the significant predictors of HCC recurrence included ATX (≥ 1.323 mg/L; hazard ratio [HR]: 6.49; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90–22.13; p = 0.003), fibrosis‐4 index (≥ 3.524; HR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.00–7.55; p = 0.050), and mac‐2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (≥ 3.85; HR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.08–4.19; p = 0.030). Here, ENPP2 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.