CXCR4 and thyroid gland carcinoma: In particular, CXCL12 (also known as SDF-1) binds to CXCR4 and CXCR7 proteins on thyroid cancer cells and consequently activates multiple signaling pathways, including mTOR, ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, Akt, p38 and BTK.