Peri-tumor fibroblasts promote tumorigenesis and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via Interleukin6/STAT3 signaling pathway

Purpose: Because many hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases develop from fibrotic or cirrhotic livers, fibroblasts are abundant in the microenvironment of HCC. Although the contribution of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to the progression of HCC is well established, the role of fibroblasts has not been comprehensively revealed