EGF and hepatocellular carcinoma: On the other hand, the finding that CXCR2 was highly expressed in HCC cells with high metastatic potential may explain why EGF could induce more production of CXCL5, while less of CXCL8, in HCC cells with high metastatic potential, and support the necessary role of CXCR2 in the production of CXCL8.