According to the presence of viral infection, in Virus HCC (1.44±1.2) the p62 levels were statistically significantly higher compared to both Virus and Virus- PHCC (0.30±0.2 and 0.17±0.07; q = 0.001 and q = <0.0002 respectively), and to all metastatic tissues: NM (q = 0.02), PM (q = 0.001), M (q = 0.02). This evidence concerns the gene SQSTM1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.