This HCC–endothelial cell interaction led to the upregulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL) 8 and 16, all recognized as angiocrine signaling molecules involved in immune cell recruitment, cancer stem cell maintenance, and tumor aggressiveness [56]. Here, CCL2 is linked to cancer.