However, in a retrospective cohort study conducted by Qu et al (74), 568 HBV-associated HCC patients who underwent curative resection were investigated; Postoperative IFN-α therapy (5×106 U IFN-α; 3 doses/week) was received by 101 patients for 18 months and clinicopathological factors were compared between patients who did or did not receive postoperative IFN-α therapy. The gene discussed is IFNA2; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.