GJB2 and cancer: GJB2-positive CAFs can be characterized as follows: they are terminally differentiated; the GJB2 expression in the fibroblasts is cancer-specific; cancer with a high GJB2 signature is associated with poor prognosis; GJB2-positive CAFs communicate abundantly with other cells, including vascular endothelial cells and cancer cells; and GJB2-positive CAFs show high secretory activity in collagen production and EMC remodeling (Fig. 5i).