To establish the role of platelet and its secretions in HCC cell proliferation, we incubated HCC cells with the following platelets for 12 or 24 hours: unstimulated platelets, CRP-activated platelets, supernatants of CRP-activated platelets (which served as platelet releasates), and resuspended activated platelets in fresh DMEM (activated platelet pellets without any releasates). Here, CRP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.