CXCL12 and neoplasm: Moreover, CXCL12 guides the migration of stromal cells that express CXCR4 and locally infiltrate the tumor, providing support by secretion of growth and angiogenic factors, as well as promoting metastasis through activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFKB) pathways3,5.