CXCR4 and cancer: Moreover, SALL4 expression allows cancer cells to acquire a stem-like phenotype, including: 1) increased mobility, invasion, and neoangiogenetic functions through the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-related genes (e.g. SNAI1, CXCR4, TWIST1, CDH1, Vimentin, and ZEB1) [38]; 2) silencing of pro-apoptotic genes (e.g PTEN); 3) inducing the expression of chemo-resistance-related genes (e.g. ATP-Binding Cassette Multidrug Transporter) [39]; 4) acquisition of immune evasion abilities.