AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: In the present study, the results indicated that AFP has a novel function in stimulating M0-type macrophages polarization into M2-type macrophages and inhibiting M1-type macrophages to phagocytize HCC cells, implying that AFP plays a key role in anti-inflammation, accelerating HCC cells to escape from the attack of macrophages, and inhibiting adaptive anti-tumor immunity.