Specifically, MICA 251 Gln, MICA 175 Gly, MICA 129 Met, or a promoter region variant MICA rs259654A are significantly more prevalent in HBV-infected individuals that progress to HCC than in HBV-infected individuals who developed liver cirrhosis, but not HCC (120). This evidence concerns the gene MICA and hepatocellular carcinoma.