Apart from that, hepatic CAFs could also recruit monocytes by stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1a/CXCR4 pathway, and stimulate the monocytes differentiation into MDSCs in IL-6-STAT3-dependent manner, thereby eliminating the anti-tumor immune responses by inhibiting T cell proliferation and functions [61]. Here, CXCL12 is linked to neoplasm.