Although the correlation of SPTBN1 with IL-6 (correlation coefficient = -0.258, p-value = 0.147), and SPTBN1 and IL-1β (correlation coefficient = -0.307, p-value = 0.082) did not reach statistical significance in HCV-induced HCC, the trend of inverse relationship is clearly seen in HCV-induced HCC (Figure 1C-II). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and hepatocellular carcinoma.