CXCL12 and cancer: Additional paracrine loops exist between cancer cells expressing C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and stromal cells, such as fibroblasts and pericytes, producing the stromal cell-derived factor 1, also known as C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12), which contribute to directional cancer cell migration (Kucia et al., 2005).