Here, not only IL-6 production but also IL-6 response are determined to be enhanced in HcPCs, and increased IL-6 response is mediated by the decreased RIG-I, which is also induced by IL-6 in the late phase, thus suggesting the feedforward vicious autocrined IL-6 and increased IL-6 response in the driving of hepatocarcinogenesis, especially in the stage from HcPCs to established HCC. Here, IL6 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.