HGF and neoplasm: Once recruited, tumor-educated macrophages take on non-immunological functions, in particular the production of factors that promote progression of tumors to a more malignant state through paracrine cues, including angiogenic factors (VEGF, TNF-α, ANG1), proteases (MMPs), growth factors (FGF, PDGF, TGF-β), and motility factors (EGF, HGF) [3].