CXCR4 and cancer: Specifically, 3D cultured cells were shown to have a higher expression of genes related to metabolism (PGK1, HK2, and GLUT3), angiogenesis (PAI1 and VEGFA), cancer stemness (CD44 and MALAT1), invasion (CXCR4), epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) (FOSL1, SNAI1, and MUC1), and hypoxia (CA9) while having a lower expression of genes related to mitosis/proliferation (BUB1, MKI67, and CCNA2) and differentiation (ESR) in normoxic and/or hypoxic culture conditions relative to 2D cultured cells (Figures 3A,B).