MMP2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Of the factors that were found to be induced by CAFs after co-culture with HCC cell-derived exosomes, the up-regulation of VEGF, MMP2, MMP9, bFGF and TGF-β was especially relevant, since these factors are known to promote cancer growth, invasion and angiogenesis through autocrine or paracrine signaling [41–43].