HGF and neoplasm: Others suggested a pro-tumor effect of PVE on primary tumors of the liver [6, 7] that may be explained by: (1) the compensatory augmentation of the arterial flow to the tumor after PVE [8], (2) expression of cytoprotective genes involved in remodeling and cell repair as a response to the stress, and (3) induction and modulation of cytokine secretion and growth factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) [7].