Ponziani FR, et al. - Given that the gut-liver axis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is the third leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide, researchers investigated whether there was an association between gut microbiota and hepatocarcinogenesis. They found that patients with HCC exhibited increased levels of fecal calprotectin. On the other hand, intestinal permeability was comparable to patients with cirrhosis but without HCC. A significant correlation was found between the gut microbiota profile and systemic inflammation in patients with cirrhosis and NAFLD and can concur in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis.