IFNA1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Several studies have reported strong antitumour activity of interferon (IFN)-based combination chemotherapy to HCC, irrespective of the lack of satisfactory results of IFN-α monotherapy (Urabe et al, 1998; Leung et al, 1999; Chung et al, 2000; Patt et al, 2003; Obi et al, 2006).