Specifically, IL-8 activation of CXCR2 in glioblastoma cell lines significantly increased SOX2 and NANOG expression and immunoblot analysis of tumor cell lines obtained from patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and exposed to IL-8 showed a time-dependent increase in the expression of critical GIC-associated transcription factors, including NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4 105. The gene discussed is NANOG; the disease is glioblastoma.