Subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed that DRB1*07 and DRB1*12 alleles also significantly increased the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Asians (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.06-4.14, P = 0.03; OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.17-2.57, P = 0.006, respectively). This evidence concerns the gene HLA-DRB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.