AREG and cancer: For instance, senescent prostate fibroblasts induced by bleomycin exhibit elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and amphiregulin (AREG), all of which increase the proliferation of cancer cells.71 Senescent mouse fibroblasts induced by adriamycin/paclitaxel treatment aggravated the side effects of cancer treatment, including inflammation, cardiac dysfunction, severe fatigue, and tumor recurrence and metastasis.