Co-implanted hepatoma cells with hepatic stellate cells (HSC) isolated from fatty liver promoted the growth of xenografts compared to those co-implanted with HSC from normal livers, which is attributed to the release of cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) from in situ activated HSCs in fatty liver [71]. Here, VEGFA is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.