| [Objective]To investigate the relationships between serum C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) and fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) levels and early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following hepatectomy.[Methods]Clinical data of 181 patients with HCC who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy at our hospital between January 2018 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The follow-up cutoff date was December 2025, and all patients completed a follow-up period of at least 2 years. Early recurrence was defined as tumor recurrence within 2 years after surgery. Serum CXCL9 and FABP5 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with early postoperative recurrence. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to evaluate the dose-response relationships between serum CXCL9, FABP5 levels and early postoperative recurrence.[Results]Among the 181 included HCC patients, 54 developed early recurrence within 2 years after hepatectomy. The rates of positive surgical margin and lymph node metastasis were higher in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group (P < 0.05). The levels of AFP, CXCL9 and FABP5 at 1 week and 1 month after surgery in the recurrence group were (237.79 ± 55.42, 222.56 ± 34.45) ng/ml, (900.53 ± 187.71, 898.79 ± 169.93) pg/ml, and (12.85 ± 1.83, 11.71 ± 1.52) μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the non-recurrence group [(200.03 ± 48.89, 167.76 ± 21.12) ng/ml, (820.20 ± 171.22, 700.04 ± 157.73) pg/ml, (11.04 ± 1.46, 9.46 ± 1.15) μg/L, all P < 0.05]. Univariate analysis demonstrated that positive surgical margin, lymph node metastasis, AFP, CXCL9 and FABP5 at 1 month after surgery were correlated with early postoperative recurrence (all P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that serum CXCL9 (OR = 1.514, 95%CI: 1.192–1.992) and FABP5 (OR = 1.633, 95%CI: 1.246–2.140) at 1 month after surgery were independent risk factors for early postoperative recurrence (all P < 0.05), whereas positive surgical margin, lymph node metastasis and AFP at 1 month after surgery were no longer independent correlates (all P > 0.05).After adjustment for potential confounding factors, serum CXCL9 and FABP5 levels at 1 month postoperatively exhibited a significant non-linear doseresponse relationship with early postoperative recurrence (P < 0.05).[Conclusion]Serum CXCL9 and FABP5 levels at 1 month postoperatively exhibited a J-shaped dose-response association with early recurrence after hepatectomy in patients with HCC. These biomarkers may facilitate precise prognostic stratification and individualized clinical management. |