Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of     cancer-related death, killing over 600,000 people per year. Currently, few therapeutic interventions are available for those  afflicted with HCC due to its often advanced stage by the time of diagnosis. Chronic infection with the Hepatitis B virus is believed to play a significant role in the development of HCC. The Hepatitis B virus genome encodes several genes, the X protein being of particular interest. The HBx protein is thought to play a major role in the progression of cancer including stages of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately HCC.