Furthermore, the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)-2, CXCL8 and CCL25 released by HCC cells can in turn increase the neutrophil ratio in the TME, forming an immunosuppressive microenvironment and leading to tumor progression (Zhu et al., 2020; Xu et al., 2021). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.