HCC (25), No. (%) EF (37), No. (%) LF(40), No. (%) All patients (77), No. (%) C (36), No. (%) HCC versus C HCC versus all patients HCC versus EF HCC versus LF           Χ2 P Χ2 P Χ2 P Χ2 P Genotype 9.68 0.007 6.55 0.04 23.69 <0.0001 0.53 0.7 AA 5 (20) 1 (3) 11(27.5) 12 (16) 4 (11)                 CA 16 (64) 7 (19) 24 (60) 31 (40) 12 (33)                 AC 4 (16) 29 (78) 5 (12.5) 34 (44) 20 (56)                 Genotype   0.003   0.01   <0.0001   0.7 AA/CA 21 (84) 8 (22) 35 (87.5) 43 (56) 16 (44)                 CC 4 (16) 29 (78) 5 (12.5) 34 (44) 20 (56)                 Genotype   0.007   0.04   <0.0001   0.6 AA/CA 26 (52) 9 (12) 46 (58) 55 (36) 20 (28)                 CC 24 (48) 65 (88) 34 (42) 99 (64) 48 (72)

Table 4: Comparison of LMP7 genotype distribution and allele frequencies between HCV-infected patients with early fibrosis, late fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; EF: Early fibrosis (F0-F2); LF: Late fibrosis (F3-F4); C: Healthy subjects.