AURKA and hepatocellular carcinoma: In conclusion, our results reveal an association for the first time between the functional polymorphism Ile31Phe in the AURKA gene and susceptibility to HBV-related HCC, and, the genotypes containing 31Phe allele, which has less potential for malignant transformation than the 31Ile allele, seem to be a genetic protective factor for the HBV-related HCC risk among Chinese.