Inclusion Criteria:

- HCC diagnosed by pathology verification or in accordance with the guidelines of
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases published in 2010 (typical
vascular pattern in computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging study) ,

- Solitary tumor less than 5 cm in diameter or 2-3 tumors with the largest one no more
than 3 cm in diameter,

- No extrahepatic metastasis,

- No radiological evidence of invasion into major portal vein or hepatic vein branches,

- Good liver reserve with Child-Pugh Class A or B,

- A platelet count of more than 50,000/mm3,

- Serum creatinine level ≤ 2 mg/dL,

- No previous treatment for HCC,

- Positive for serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) for more than 6 months

- Positive serum HBV DNA using a Cobas Amplicor HBV monitor (Roche Diagnostic System,
Basel, Switzerland).

Exclusion Criteria:

- Dual or multiple infections with hepatitis C virus, hepatitis D virus, or the human
immunodeficiency virus,

- Other forms of liver disease such as alcoholic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis,
Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis,

- Use of interferon alpha, thymosin or antiviral agents within 6 months preceding entry
into the study,

- Women who are pregnant or nursing.