HGF and ovarian carcinoma: By using a 3D culture model involving the key components of the omental microenvironment, such as fibroblasts, mesothelial cells, and extracellular matrices [82, 83], Cai et al. showed that ovarian cancer cells induce the activation of omental fibroblasts and promote their proliferation by TGF-β1 signaling; in turn, omental CAFs enhance cancer cell adhesion and invasion via the secretion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and MMP-2 [84].