In addition to the secretion of angiogenic factors, such as VEGF and CXC chemokines, which stimulate tumor vascularization by activated HSCs 42, 43, the secretion of cytokines and chemokines, such as PDGF, TGF-β, IL-6 and Wnt ligands, might directly interact with hepatic cells to initiate the HCC development or facilitate its progression 41, 44. Here, VEGFA is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.