IL6 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Compatible with the above, over-expression of IL-6 correlated with mortality (<6-month versus ≥ 6-month survival: 29.66 ± 5.86 versus 12.23 ± 3.51 pg/ml, P = 0.012, respectively) while portending 6-month mortality in HCC-total cases (Table 3).