Several predictive risk factors for CHB related cirrhosis and HCC have been well documented in past studies, and include male gender, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) serostatus, increasing age, high serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, alcohol consumption, high serum HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels, family history of HCC, viral genotype, and viral mutants8–15. The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.