In order to determine if co-expression of NTS and IL-8 (NTS+IL-8+) in HCC tissues correlates with the development of a local inflammatory response in microenvironment, the expression of VEGF and MMP9 proteins, as well as infiltration of CD68+ TAMs were studied among 64 cases of primary HCC tissues and corresponding normal adjacent tissues. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.