Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Age (years)

 Median

67

 Range

45–85

Gender

 Male

31 (81.6)

 Female

7 (18.4)

ECOG score

 0–1

24 (63.2)

 2

14 (36.8)

Etiology

 Hepatitis B

21 (55.3)

 Hepatitis C

11 (28.9)

 Alcohol

6 (15.8)

Child-Pugh classification

 A

27 (71.1)

 B

11 (28.9)

Alpha-fetoprotein (ng/ml)

 Median

50.6

  ≤ 400/>400

23 (60.5)/15 (39.5)

Albumin (g/dL)

 Median

3.6

 Range

2.39–4.54

Hemoglobin (g/dL)

 Median

11.4

 Range

8.2–16

AJCC tumor stage

 T1–2

8 (21.1)

 T3–4

30 (78.9)

Tumor size(cm)

 Median (range)

4.6 (2.5–16.7)

  ≤ 4/>4

10 (26.3)/28 (73.7)

PVTT

 Yes

24 (63.2)

 No

14 (36.8)

Previous treatment

 TACE

29

 PEI or RFA

18

 None

3