Immunomodulatory properties observed in preclinical tumor models and early-phase clinical trials in advanced HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma, encompass reduction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (-43%), regulatory T cells (-31%), and enhancement of CD8+ T-cell function (+2.8-fold) providing proof-of-concept for immune modulation in an HBV-endemic population. Here, CD8A is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.