Finally, CAFs also produce many growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines such as TGFβ, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CXC-chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), thereby promoting tumor growth, angiogenesis and recruitment of immunosuppressive cells into the TME to assist in immune evasion (20, 23). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is neoplasm.