KRT88P and hepatocellular carcinoma: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is characterized by the presence of very low levels of HBV DNA in the plasma and/or in the liver, with undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), with or without antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) or hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), outside the pre-seroconversion window period (1), and OBIs may contribute to the exacerbation of acute HBV infection and the development of HBV-associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (2).