Objective To explore the relationship between the hepatocellular carcinoma, the precore G1896A mutation and  the basic core promoter A1762T/G1764A double mutations of  the hepatitis B virus. Methods Total of 82 patients with chronic HBV  infection hospitalized  in Qingdao  infectious diseases hospital were enrolled  in  this study, whose serum HBV DNA  levels were higher  than 104 copies/ml,  including 29 cases of chronic hepatitis B, 27 cases of  liver cirrhosis and 26 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. The mutations of precore and basic core promoter of HBV were detected by Real-time ? uorescent PCR,  the serum TNF-α levels were detected by ELISA. Results The mutation rates of the precore G1896A and BCP A1762T/G1764A in LC group and HCC group were markedly higher than that in CHB group, but were not markedly different between LC group and HCC group. The serum TNF-α  levels  in patients with precore G1896A and BCP A1762T/G1764A were signi? cantly higher  than  those  in non-mutation patients. Conclusions The mutations of HBV precore G1896A and BCP A1762T/G1764A are correlated with the pathogenesis of HCC, whether it is related to serum TNF-α level remains further discussed.