HGF and hepatocellular carcinoma: Capone et al. reported that the T2DM-HCC patients had higher levels of ADIPOQ, β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF), chemokine ligand1 (CXCL1), CXCL12, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), several interleukin (IL) members, and IFN-α and lower levels of leptin than T2DM or HCC patients.