Functional polymorphism of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene increases risk of hepatocellular carcin oma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis by increasing serum and liver EGF concentrations (JAMA 2008; 299: 53–60). Previous studies have shown that EGF polymorphisms modulate EGF con centrations and, in mouse models, over-expression of EGF has led to development of HCC. “EGF and the EGFR (EGF receptor) pathway appear to be excellent targets for chemo prevention in patients with cirrh osis”, says the study’s lead author Kenneth Tanabe (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA). “Measure ment of EGF [concentration] and EGF single nucleotide polymorphism is rel evant in patients with cirrhosis to ass ess their risk for HCC and potentially mod ulate intensity of screening.” The researchers studied mol ecular mech anisms that linked 61*G allele polymorphisms and EGF exp ression in HCC cell lines and human liver tissue. They then studied the assoc iation between EGF polymorphisms and HCC in patients with cirrhosis in two case– control studies (a US study [n=207] and a French validation study [n=121]). EGF secretion was 2·3–times higher in G/G cell lines than in A/A cell lines, the researchers noted. In the US study, compared with the A/A genotype, patients with the A/G genotype had an odds ratio (OR) of 2·4 (95% CI 1–5·4; p=0·05) for development of HCC, and for those with the G/G genotype the OR was 4·0 (1·6–9·6; p=0·002). Number of copies of G was signifi cantly associated with HCC, after adjusting for various factors (hazard ratio for G/G plus A/G vs A/A 3·49 [1·29–9·44; p=0·01]). “The results strongly suggest the importance of inhibiting the EGF/ EGFR axis as a therapeutic strategy for HCC patients,” comments Camillo Porta (IRCCS San Matteo Univ ersity Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy). This study hints at the opportunity to select patients more appropriately for EGFR antagonists, adds Ulrich Lehmann (Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany).