KIR3DL1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Whilst there is accumulating evidence for an important role for KIR in hepatitis C infection [34], progression of disease [22], and development of hepatocellular carcinoma [23], there have been few studies investigating KIR associations in HBV infection and subsequent liver disease and cancer [35,36], although the underlying pathophysiological processes are likely to be similar.