Statistical analyses

SPSS for Windows version 17.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical calculations. The results were expressed as the means ± standard deviation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparisons were used to determine significant differences in HTATIP2/TIP30 levels between the healthy controls and HCC groups and subgroups (I–II stage and III–IV stage). ROC analysis was used to detect the optimal cut-off points for separating the healthy control group from the HCC group, its subgroups with metastasis and without metastasis (III–IV stage and I–II stage), and I–II stage patients from healthy controls. Correlations between HTATIP2/TIP30 and clinical characteristics were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients. Logistic regression analysis results established a combined model of HTATIP2/TIP30 and AFP.