HGF and neoplasm: In terms of the PSC function, CTHRC1 treatment markedly increased the genetic expression of tumor-promoting growth factors (EGF, HGF, and FGF by 4.9, 4.4, and 10.5 times, respectively) and cytokines (IL8 and IL10 by 3.7 and 2.9 times, respectively) (Figure 4D).