The level of salivary HP was higher in the early HCC group than in the non-HCC group, but there was no statistically difference in salivary HP between the HCC and CHB groups (LC: p = 0.008, CHB: p = 0.658, NC: p < 0.001) (Fig. 3f). This evidence concerns the gene HP and laryngotracheoesophageal cleft.