CXCR4 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In the pre-metastatic microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma, the expression of CXCL12 can downregulate the transcription factor Paired Related Homeobox 1 (Prrx1), thereby inducing an increase in the protein and mRNA expression of CXCR4 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the STAT3 pathway [91].