NLRP3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: The present study provided evidence for the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis in HCC as revealed by the statistically significant under-expression of NLRP3 (the sensor of inflammasome), CASP1 (the effector of inflammasome), and GSDMD (the downstream molecule of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the executioner of pyroptotic cell death) in the cancerous tissues obtained from HCC patients.