COL1A1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: However, the expression of COL1A1 and COL1A2 in normal epithelium, premalignant and tumor lesions of the stomach is rarely mentioned, and while type I collagen has been associated with hepatic fibrosis [20], there is a dearth of information on the clinical significance of COL1A1 in patients with HCC, thus, the present study investigate the role of COL1A1 in HCC.