TLR2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: This study emphasizes that both TLR2 and IL28B polymorphism may have a role in directing HCV-progression towards hepatic diseases: in particular, the presence of IL28B-C allele in homozygosity has a potential protective effect towards chronic infection and liver diseases, but the simultaneous presence of at least one TLR2-del allele abolished this effect; the TLR2-del/del state appeared also closely linked with HCC condition [25].