Circulating DNA level is negatively associated with the long-term survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Table 1 Circulating DNA level and clinicopathological features of HCC patients

Variable	n	Circulating DNA level
		HDNA	LDNA	P
Tumor number				0.26
Single	60	29	31
Multiple	19	12	7
Tumor size				0.008
≤ 5 cm	44	17	27
> 5 cm	35	24	11
Tumor capsule				0.9
(+)	41	21	20
(-)	38	20	18
Differentiation				0.823
I-II	24	12	12
III-IV	55	29	26
Vascular invasion				0.179
(+)	31	19	12
(-)	48	22	26
Serum AFP				0.79
≤ 20 μg/L	24	13	11
> 20 μg/L	55	28	27
HBsAg				0.266
(+)	67	33	34
(-)	12	8	4
Cirrhosis				0.401
(+)	68	34	34
(-)	11	7	4
TNM stage				0.04
I-II	49	21	28
III-IV	30	20	10
3-yr DFS				0.008
Yes	27	9	18
No	52	32	20
3-yr OS				0
Yes	33	10	23
No	46	31	15

HDNA: High plasma DNA level (≥ 36.6 ng/mL); LDNA: Low plasma DNA level (< 36.6 ng/mL); DFS: Disease-free survival; OS: Overall survival.