Another recent study suggested that human adipose MSCs had significantly increased the expression of CAF markers, including α-SMA, vimentin, c-MYC, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2, vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor receptor1 (FGFR1), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and Tenascin-C, when cocultured with HCC cells, thereby acquiring a CAF-like phenotype.43 This evidence concerns the gene ACTA1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.