CLCF1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Additionally, cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1), a cytokine that belongs to the IL-6 superfamily, can be secreted by CAFs to induce the secretion of (C-X-C motif) ligand 6 (CXCL6) and TGF-β in HCC, which subsequently promote tumor cell stemness in an autocrine manner.