HGF and neoplasm: Pre-clinical studies identified numerous candidates that can substitute VEGF in sustaining tumor angiogenesis and include angiopoietins (Ang), ephrins, fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF1) and−2 (FGF2) (Casanovas et al., 2005), prokineticin-1 (Bv8) (Shojaei et al., 2007b), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (Shojaei et al., 2010; Cascone et al., 2017), IL-8 (Huang et al., 2010), platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGFC) (Crawford et al., 2009), VEGFC (Li et al., 2014), and PLGF (Fischer et al., 2007).