When we try to understand the underlying cause of the conflicting roles of LCN2 in NAFLD and NASH-related HCC, it is hard not to speculate that this range of behaviors is the product of either its special form (monomer/dimer/complex) of LCN2, microenvironment (growth factors, cytokines, and immune cells), or even sex-specific characteristics (oestrogen) present in different NAFLD-HCC models used. Here, LCN2 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.