In sum, the sex-dependent FMR1-AS1 within exosomes secreted by ESCC cancer stem-like cells can bind to endosomal TLR7 and activate TLR7-NFκB signaling, thus promoting the expression of downstream CSC-linked gene, c-Myc, in the recipient non-CSCs (Fig. 7). Here, FMR1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.