CXCL12 and neoplasm: Compared to normal samples, although MAIT cells reduced in HCC, tumor-derived MAIT cells down-regulated genes enriched in the cytokine secretion and cytolytic effect pathways (NFKB1 and STAT5B) and up-regulated genes such as IL8, CXCL12 and HAVCR2 (TIM -3) promote tumor development (71).