The stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1) plasmid treatment for patients with heart failure (STOP-HF)trial is a phase 2, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialfor treatment of HF via endomyocardial injection.39 Unlike the CUPID trial or the current study, a plasmidvector instead of viral vector was used in the STOP-HF trial. Here, CXCL12 is linked to heart failure.