AKT1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: For example, a study published in 2021 revealed that CAFs are connected to lymphatic-specific carriers (LSCs) through paracrine interactions involving fibrinogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and the LRP1 protein, triggering the AKT and ERK pathways and promoting metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells and macrophages (91).