HGF and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: It was observed that in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), HGF-induced angiogenesis is driven by either pro-angiogenic cytokines (e.g., VEGF and IL-8) [86,87] or independently of VEGF, through Akt and Erk activation in endothelial cells [88].