"World J Gastroenterol 2007; 13(48): 6553-6557 http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/13/6553.aspINTRODUCTIONUpward trends in incidence or mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been reported in the United States, Japan and several European countries, including Italy, over the last two or three decades." . . . . .