Do the expressions of gap junction gene connexin messenger RNA in noncancerous liver remnants of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma correlate with postoperative recurrences?

Table 1 Characteristics of 79 patients with HCC undergoing curative resection.

Variables	No. of patients (%)
Age (mean, yr)	56.4±12.6
Male	52 (65.8)
Cirrhosis	57 (72.2)
Child-Pugh’s class A	55 (70.0)
Serum AFP <20 ng/mL	30 (38.0)
20-103 ng/mL	29 (36.7)
>103 ng/mL	20 (25.3)
HBsAg (+)	60 (57.8)
Anti-HCV (+)	41 (51.9)
Size of HCC <3 cm	24 (30.4)
3-10 cm	25 (31.6)
>10 cm	30 (38.0)
Edmondson-Steiner’s grade I	4 (5.1)
grade II	30 (38.0)
grade III	42 (53.2)
grade IV	3 (3.8)
Complete capsule	61 (77.3)
Vascular permeation	56 (70.9)
Daughter nodules	44 (55.7)
Tumor necrosis	55 (70.0)
Tumor hemorrhage	24 (30.4)

AFP: serum alpha fetoprotein; HBsAg (+): positive hepatitis B surface antigen; Anti-HCV (+): positive hepatitis C virus antibody; Edmondson Steiner grade: differentiation grade.