CXCL12 and neoplasm: We have previously reported that mRNA for HIF‐1α, the another potent tumor activator,65 is upregulated in fibroblasts infected by H. pylori (cagA+vacA+) strain.10 HIF‐1α is known to induce transcription of more than 60 genes and to play an important role in CAFs activation and release of a great number of proangiogenic factors including SDF‐1, IL‐8, and VEGF35, 65 also examined in our present study.