Abstract Hepatitis B–associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often accompanied by severe vascular invasion and portal vein tumor thrombus, leading to a poor prognosis. However, the underlying mechanism of this disease remains obscure. In study, we demonstrate that hepatitis B virus (HBV)–encoded gene HBx induces high IL8 production through MEK–ERK signal activation, enhanced endothelial pe...