We discovered that TIAR expression is higher in tumor tissues of HCC, and its high expression is associated with poor prognosis of HCC (supplementary Fig S8a-d) but is not related to the staging of liver fibrosis (supplementary Fig S8e-f) by using public databases.55–58 Nevertheless, the occurrence of HCC and cirrhosis is a complex process, which is not only related to HBV replication but also to repeated inflammatory injury. This evidence concerns the gene TIAL1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.