AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: In the current trial, combining serum IL-6 level with AFP was shown to increase the diagnostic value for HCC.22 In a trial conducted on 29 healthy individuals, 50 chronic hepatitis patients due to HBV and HCV, 23 patients with cirrhosis, and 26 HCC cases, IL-6 was not found to be >3 pg/mL in any of the control cases.