Specifically, we found that hybrid cells retain signaling pathways common to tumor cells and macrophages that have been previously implicated in mediating one or more aspects of the hallmarks of cancer metastasis including TYROBP-CD44, APP-CD74, ANXA1-FPR1/3, GAS6-AXL, CXCL12-CXCR4, LGALS9-P4HB, and IGF1-IGFR1 and that these pathways were conserved in at least two or more patient samples. The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is cancer.