Table 3.
Univariate and multivariate analysis on the factors predictive for progression-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients
| Variable |
Univariate analysis
|
Multivariable analysis
|
||
|
HR (95%CI)
|
P
value
|
HR (95%CI)
|
P
value
|
|
| Ang-2 group (cut-off: Median level) | ||||
| Low Ang-2 group | Reference | – | Reference | – |
| High Ang-2 group | 2.53 (1.89–3.39) | < 0.001 | 1.55 (1.10–2.20) | 0.01 |
| VEGF group (cut-off: Median level) | ||||
| Low VEGF group | Reference | – | Reference | – |
| High VEGF group | 1.29 (0.97–1.71) | 0.08 | 1.08 (0.80–1.46) | 0.61 |
| Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio | 1.02 (0.98–1.05) | 0.32 | – | – |
| AFP (≥ 20 ng/mL) | 2.27 (1.713.04) | < 0.001 | 1.54 (1.13–2.11) | 0.007 |
| Age | 0.99 (0.98–1.01) | 0.30 | – | – |
| Male sex | 1.32 (0.91–1.92) | 0.15 | – | – |
| BMI > 25 kg/m2 | 0.67 (0.50–0.91) | 0.01 | 0.72 (0.53–0.97) | 0.03 |
| Presence of cirrhosis | 1.04 (0.74–1.46) | 0.81 | – | – |
| Child-Pugh class B or C | 2.17 (1.48–3.18) | < 0.001 | 1.54 (1.01–2.35) | 0.05 |
| NLR > 4 | 2.13 (1.45–3.12) | < 0.001 | 1.95 (1.23–3.08) | 0.004 |
| PLR > 150 | 2.05 (1.45–2.90) | < 0.001 | 1.02 (0.67–1.57) | 0.93 |
| TNM stage | ||||
| I | Reference | – | Reference | – |
| II | 1.94 (1.31–2.89) | 0.001 | 1.75 (1.16–2.63) | 0.008 |
| III | 5.47 (3.81–116.24) | < 0.001 | 4.35 (2.91–6.50) | < 0.001 |
| IV | 70.42 (15.00–330.6) | < 0.001 | 9.35 (5.00–17.46) | < 0.001 |
Cox proportional hazards model with a backward elimination approach was used for multivariable analysis. HR: Hazard ratio; CI: Confidence interval; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; AFP: Alpha fetoprotein; BMI: Body mass index; MELD: Model for end stage liver disease; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; TNM: Tumor-node-metastasis.