The results showed that both HBV integration and -124G>A mutation in the TERT promoter region, occurring in a mutually exclusive manner, were more frequent in male than in female patients with HCC (integration: 22/58 male patients with HCC, 6/36 female patients with HCC, P = 0.0285; -124G>A: 17/62 male patients with HCC, 3/39 female patients with HCC, P = 0.0201; in combination, 39/62 male patients with HCC, 9/39 female patients with HCC, P < 0.0001).