TAMs can directly facilitate HCC growth by the secretion of growth factors, such as HGF, epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)-ligands, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor PDGF, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and TGF-β. The gene discussed is HGF; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.