CXCL9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: However, in hepatocellular carcinoma studies, CXCL9 binds to the receptor subtype CXCR3 and activates the rhCXCL9-induced p-ERK1/2-MMP2/MMP9 pathway, enhancing the migration and invasion of CD133+ hepatocellular carcinoma (91).