HGF and neoplasm: Additionally, transforming growth factor (TGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) play an important role in the development of EMT and further promote the process of EMT and the ability of tumor proliferation and distant spread through the activation of downstream pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MEK/ERK, WNT, and NOTCH pathways (Dongre and Weinberg, 2019).