A prospective case-control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, showed that higher circulating concentrations of IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), C peptide, non-high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, and glutamate dehydrogenase were significantly associated with higher risk of HCC, independent on established liver cancer risk factors and high BMI. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is cancer.