TLR4 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In addition, Zhang et al. demonstrated that TLR4 signaling contributes to the regulation of VEGF in a non-HIF-dependent manner, as the stimulation of the TLR4/MyD88 pathway by LPS-activated STAT3/Sp1 signaling, enhancing VEGF expression, results in HCC growth and the potentiation of lung metastasis [58].