CXCL12 and colorectal cancer: In colorectal cancer, elevated levels of systemic tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) trigger hepatic stellate cells to release chemokines, such as C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12), that recruit neutrophils to the liver [59].