Previous reports have showed an increased immunoregulatory CD56++CD16dim compartment[39] and a decreased cytotoxic CD16++CD56dim compartment[40] in chronic hepatitis C. To our knowledge, this current study is the first to demonstrate the significant differences of the two compartments between cases that developed HCC after treatment or not (Fig 2B). This evidence concerns the gene NCAM1 and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.