CAF-Factors, including CXCL16, IL-6, CCL2, CCL7, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and POSTN, promote the invasion of HCC in co-culture models by stimulating the secretion of chemokines that activate the hedgehog and TGF-β pathways for their pro-metastatic effects, which remain to be verified in vivo (4, 52). The gene discussed is POSTN; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.