Another published review including 12 observational studies [21] reported a marginal association between IL-10 (-1082 A/G) and hepatocellular carcinoma for overall population, while significant association with − 592 A/C under dominant and allelic models for overall population, but no significant association with − 819 T/C under any genetic models for overall population or subgroups. Here, IL10 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.