HCC cells “educate” quiescent stellate cells via exosomal miR-21 (PTEN→PDK1/AKT) and miR-1247-3p (B4GALT3→β1-integrin/NF-κB), converting them into cytokine-rich cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that release IL-6, IL-8, and pro-angiogenic factors [42,43]. Here, AKT1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.