We identified peritumoral HMGB1 overexpression in only 11 % of patients with HBV-negative HCC without liver cirrhosis, probably because of the close association between HMGB1 expression and liver fibrosis, suggesting that HCC and liver fibrosis are both influenced by HMGB1-mediated macrophage stimulation. This evidence concerns the gene HMGB1 and cirrhosis of liver.