Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is
the most common cause of hepatocellular
carcinoma,1,2 the sixth most common cancer
in the world and one of the leading causes of cancer
death.3 Although a highly effective HBV vaccine
has been available for over 2 decades, HBV
remains a major public health problem. Globally,
350 million people are infected with HBV4 and it is
the leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis, and
leads to 3000 deaths annually.5,6 Many of these
deaths are preventable with early diagnosis and
treatment.7