Further study showed that the activated CAFs facilitated NSCLC cells invasion via promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, upregulating metastasis-related genes, releasing CXCL12, and activating its downstream AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT)/ nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. The gene discussed is CXCL12; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.