Criteria for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis

The diagnosis of HCC was made based on the findings of radiological characteristics in at least 2 imaging methods including ultrasound, liver angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast-enhanced four-phase dynamic computed tomography. Alternatively, the diagnosis was confirmed by 1 positive imaging modality along with serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level > 400 ng/mL or biopsy confirmed as previously described.^{1 (link),8 (link),10 ,11 (link)} Patients were considered to have hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection if they were seropositive for antibody against HCV (anti-HCV, Abbott Laboratories). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was diagnosed if patients were seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (Abbott Laboratories). Alcoholism was diagnosed in patients with daily consumption of at least 40 g of alcohol for 5 years or more.^{10 ,11 (link)} PS was determined at enrollment defined by to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.^{12 (link)} The modification of diet in renal disease formula was used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We estimated total tumor volume by using mathematical formulas as indicated in our previous studies.^{13 (link)}