FGF2 and cancer: As a malignant tumor of vascular endothelial cells, factors that have been hypothesized to contribute to the pathogenesis of HSA include chronic inflammation, macrophage activation, hypoxia, and angiogenesis.[21] In vitro, HSA cells produce growth factors promoting angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), platelet-derived growth factor-β (PDGF-β), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and genes involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, and cellular adhesion and invasion can distinguish HSA cells from non-malignant endothelial cells.[9,21]