Serum ULBP1 was not associated with markers of liver disease including platelet count, alanine transaminase or serum albumin, or with HBV viral load (Figures 1E,F), suggesting that in the context of clinical HCC, ULBP1 production was independent of liver fibrosis, hepatocyte dysfunction and HBV replication. This evidence concerns the gene ULBP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.