Independent regulation of tumorigenesis and fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Primary liver cancer, of which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the vast majority of cases, is the second highest cause of cancer-related death world-wide (1). HCC typically occurs in the context of chronic liver injury due to chronic diseases, including: viral hepatitis; alcoholic liver disease and; obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progressive, inflammatory form; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).