IL6 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Leptin overexpression was found responsible for TNF-α and IL-6-related chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, liver fibrosis, and HCC development (Ikejima et al., 2001; Wang et al., 2001; Franckhauser et al., 2006; Chen et al., 2007; Tsochatzis et al., 2008).