Long intergenic non-coding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma—a focus on Linc00176

Liver cancer is a common type of cancer that ranks the second in cancer-related mortality world-wide (1). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant type of liver cancer and it usually arises on the background of cirrhosis. Risk factors associated with the incidence of HCC include viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C viruses), the metabolic syndrome including non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, autoimmune hepatitis as well as aflatoxin-B ingestion (2,3).