On the other hand, CAFs can in turn induce and maintain the stemness of HCC through the IL-6/STAT3, TGF-β/SDF-1/PI3K, Wnt/β-catenin, HGF/cMET, and SHH/Hh pathways (23, 68). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL12 and hepatocellular carcinoma.