The study was prompted by accumulating evidence that PNPLA3 I148M influences both liver disease progression and carcinogenesis, representing a potentially useful biomarker for HCC risk stratification [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [31], whereas the clinical implications of carrying the I148M polymorphism for patients already diagnosed with HCC are still unknown. The gene discussed is PNPLA3; the disease is liver disorder.