CD44 and esophageal cancer: MIF serves as a non-cognate ligand for CXCR2 and CXCR4 [31, 32]: MIF (and CXCR4) in the TME are adverse prognostic indicators in esophageal cancer [71], and it can induce CXCR ligand and regulators of macrophage infiltration like CD44 [77].