Elevated serum alpha fetoprotein levels promote pathological progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma patient cohort (n = 160) (mean ± SD)

	Concentration of AFP (μg/L)
	< 20	20-250	≥ 250
Age (yr)	51.6 ± 9.9	54.6 ± 10.3	51.2 ± 9.8
Sex (male/female)	56/12	29/7	43 /13
ALT (U/L)	58.0 ± 60.0	55.8 ± 48.2	58.7 ± 58.5
Child
A	52	0	47
B	12	5	7
C	4	1	2
HBsAg (+)	56	28	50
HCV (+)	1	1	1
Non-viral	11	7	5

AFP: Alpha fetoprotein; ALT: Alanine transaminase; HBsAg(+): Hepatitis B virus antigen positive; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; Non-viral: Non-viral etiology.