['To determine whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E1 receptor (EP', 'We retrospectively reviewed the records of 116 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent surgery between 2008 and 2011 at our hospital. Expression of COX-2 and EP', 'Factors associated with poor overall survival (OS) were alpha-fetoprotein > 400 ng/mL, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, and high EP'] Is cyclooxygenase-2 expression associated with initiation of hepatocellular carcinoma , while prostaglandin receptor-1 expression predicts survival?