CXCL8 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Based on the latest research, CAFs-derived cytokines such as HGF, IL-6, CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8, SCGF-b, and VEGF were more likely to induce and maintain stem properties of HCC cells (Lau et al., 2016; Li et al., 2019).