APOF and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Therefore, we hypothesize that APOF may play a role similar to that of a tumor suppressor gene and the one of the mechanisms of APOF-LIHC association is mediated through the intermediary of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a precancerous lesion of LIHC and can proceed to cirrhosis through fibrotic phase and can be exacerbated by LIHC [86].