Fig. 1
From: Identifying cancer-associated fibroblasts as emerging targets for hepatocellular carcinoma
Effects of cancer-associated fibroblasts on HCC. CAFs could contribute to HCC initiation and progression by various ways, including ECM remodeling, enhancing HCC cells stemness, accelerating angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry (VM), as well as inducing immunosuppression. COMP, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; ECM, extracellular matrix; VM, vasculogenic mimicry; HGF, hypoxic growth factor; PDGF, platelet derive growth factor; EMT, epithelial–mesenchymal transition; PDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptor; CTGF, connective tissue growth factor; CSCs, cancer stem cells; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor