Candidate genes have invariably been selected because of their association with progression of alcohol-related liver injury and positive robust associations for variants rs738409 in PNPLA3, and rs58542926 in TM6SF2 have been identified.8 9 These variants are known to modify liver fat content and signalling, but how they influence the mechanisms leading to tumour initiation or promotion is largely unknown.37 38 In this study, the increased risk associations between HCC in ArC and rs738409 in PNPLA3 and rs58542926 in TM6SF2 were confirmed, at genome-wide significance. Here, PNPLA3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.