Abstract: The invention generally relates to method for assessing a liver of a patient having a chronic hepatitis B virus infection. In certain aspects, methods of the invention involve obtaining a sample from a patient having a chronic hepatitis B virus infection. An assay is conducted on the sample to determine a level of at least one biomarker regulated by Suz12/Znf198. The liver of the patient is then assessed based on the level of the at least one biomarker. Other aspects of the invention generally relate to reducing or eliminating replication of a hepatitis B virus, and preventing a chronic hepatitis B infection in a patient from progressing to a liver cancer.