Studies in both human HCC cell lines and mouse models have shown that IL-8 also activates FOXC1 via PI3K/AKT HIF-1α to promote the invasion and metastasis of HCC by trans-activation of CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR) and CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) [38]. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and hepatocellular carcinoma.