CRP and hepatocellular carcinoma: Moreover, inflammation is involved in HCC carcinogenesis, in which activation of NF-κB stimulates generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines including cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, TNF-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1, IL-26, IL-8, IL-18, macrophage inflammation protein (MIP)-1α, and 5-LO [105].