For example, genes such as IFNL3 and IFNL4 are known to be associated with treatment response in those treated with interferon regimens.55 For these genes, therefore, the causal mechanism for the association with HCC incidence may be related to the duration of infection, rather than any direct effect on liver disease progression or hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, IFNL3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.