CRP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Previous studies have suggested that an elevated CRP concentration is associated with poor survival in patients with HCC.[44] Moreover, platelets have been shown to induce an epithelial-mesenchymal-like transition[45] and platelet-derived nucleotides were shown to promote tumor cell transendothelial migration and metastasis.[5] Therefore, the PLR should also be investigated as a potential prognostic factor.