Interestingly, the serum IL-6 levels were higher in HCC-/Cir+ patients who were HCMV seropositive (9.29 pg/ml versus 7.98 pg/ml), and the converse was observed in HCC+ patients in whose decreased serum IL-6 levels were measured in HCMV seropositive subjects (Figure 2B). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.