CD44 and cancer: In MIA-Paca2, exogenous ASPH substantially spurred migration/2-D invasion (Additional file 1: Figure S1B-C) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) as highlighted by downregulated epithelial marker E-cadherin and/or upregulated mesenchymal marker Vimentin (Additional file 1: Figure S1H-I); 3D invasion (Fig. 1a, b), ECM degradation/remodeling (Fig. 1c), and stemness (Fig. 1d; Additional file 2: Figure S2A) as demonstrated by upregulated cancer stem cell markers (CD44 and EpCAM) and/or enhanced pancreatosphere formation.