CXCR4 and renal carcinoma: Interestingly, mesenchymal transition of renal epithelial cells is associated with CXCL12 upregulation in a model of fibrotic kidney pathology and strong CXCR4 expression indicates progressed disease in renal carcinoma, suggesting that the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway may be involved in epithelial dedifferentiation [9], [10].