Further investigation disclosed CAFs isolated from fresh HCC tissues remarkably enhanced VM formation in vitro and in vivo through enhancing the expression of VE-cadherin, MMP2 and laminin5γ2 via TGF-βR1 and CXCR4 in HCC cells, suggesting the roles of CAFs in facilitating VM formation and angiogenesis [57]. This evidence concerns the gene MMP2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.