Functionally, activated CAFs exhibit enhanced secretory phenotype, secreting various cytokines including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) et al., which can, in turn, induce the proliferation, migration, immune response of liver cancer cells [21]. Here, HGF is linked to liver cancer.