In males, discordantly three cytokines and chemokines increased (IL-12 p40, p = 0.002; LIX/CXCL5, p = 0.003; MIP-1β/CCL4, p = 0.02) and four cytokines and chemokines decreased (IL-20, p = 0.02; M-CSF, p = 0.04; MIP-3β/CCL19, p = 0.008; EPO, p = 0.004) during HCC (Figure S3B). This evidence concerns the gene EPO and hepatocellular carcinoma.