Introduction: Oxidative damage is an important factor contributing to ageing and many degenerative dis- eases. It can be detected by the DNA base damage, which is formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2’deoxygua- nosine (8-oxodG). The 8-oxodG is an important indicator of oxidative stress and has been competent- ly specified as a recognized initiator of the carcinogenic process and premutagenic injury in mammalian cells. Aims: In this preliminary study, we investigated the possible association of oxidative DNA damage in hepa- tocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in comparison with Malaysian healthy controls taking into account the dif- ferent races and genders in both groups. Method: DNA of peripheral white blood cells was isolated from 91 HCC patients and 304 controls. The level of oxidative DNA damage was determined by ELISA procedure. Results: Quantitative measurement of 8-oxodG was higher in HCC patients at mean value of 3.30 ± 2.32 ng/ml. In controls, the average value is 1.57 ± 1.92 ng/ml. Comparison between gender showed that there was a significant difference observed in the level of 8-oxodG between male and female in controls, where p = 0.003. The level of 8-oxodG was higher in male than in female controls. There was a significant difference in the average value of 8-ox- odG level between the controls and HCC patients where p