Notably, CD44 was highly expressed on the tumor-enriched stressed CD56bright state, alongside CXCR4 and CD74, possibly sensitizing this population to TME-mediated immunosuppression from CAFs, fibroblasts, endothelial and tumor cells, as noted by high scores for TGF-β signaling, hypoxia and ROS. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and neoplasm.