An OBI-defining condition was observed in HCC tissue of nearly 20% of the 68 HBsAg-negative patients investigated in this study and more precisely in half of those with circulating anti-HBc alone, in nearly one-third of the anti-HBs/anti-HBc-positive and in only 5% of the anti-HBc-negative. This evidence concerns the gene KRT88P and hepatocellular carcinoma.