Interestingly, Cao et al. measured IGF mRNA and protein levels in patients with HCC after partial hepatectomy, and found that both levels were significantly increased in patients who received treatment with recombinant human (rhGH) compared with patients who did not receive rhGH treatment, suggesting that rhGH has the capability to improve the GH/IGF-1 axis after partial hepatectomy in HCC patients [79]. Here, IGF1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.