CD44 and central nervous system cancer: Meanwhile, we also found that ANXA5 promoted the expression of CD44 by activating the p38 MAPK pathway, and the knockdown of CD44 in ANXA5-recovered U251 and SHG44 cells could inhibit the effects of ANXA5. Hence, it is reasonable to conclude that ANXA5 promotes the proliferation and migration of glioma cells by the MAPK/CD44 pathway.