Several previous studies have shown that SERPINB3 up-regulation caused by SDF-1/CXCR4/NF-kappaB pathway and HIF-2α-generated under hypoxic conditions separately facilitates the migration and invasion of gastric cancer (24) and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (25), exhibits superior spherogenic ability and invasion capacity of cholangiocarcinoma (26). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL12 and hepatocellular carcinoma.