CAFs secrete growth factors (HGF, IGF1), tumour-promoting ligands (TFG-β, IL-6 and LIF) and immunosuppressive ligands (CXCL12 and CCL2) (Biffi and Tuveson, 2021; Kraman et al., 2010; Sahai et al., 2020). The gene discussed is CXCL12; the disease is neoplasm.