HGF and neoplasm: Current research suggests that an inflammatory microenvironment promotes tumor development in the following ways: (I) Cytokines that stimulate tumor cell proliferation and survival, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are present in the inflammatory microenvironment and shift the balance between neoplastic proliferation and apoptosis [5].