RIGI and neoplasm: To analyze the role of RIG-I decrease in hepatocarcinogenesis, we constructed hepatocyte-specific RIG-I knockout Rig-Ihep−/− mouse (Fig. 1f, Additional file 2: Fig. S1a), and found that DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis was markedly promoted by hepatic RIG-I deficiency, including increased tumor incidence, number, diameter, and shortened survival (Fig. 1g, h, Additional file 2: Fig. S1b).