Independent regulation of tumorigenesis and fibrosis in nonalcoholic 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).