CXCL12 and cancer: Recent research has indicated that CAFs have the potential to augment cancer stem cell (CSC) activity and promote tumor growth by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and human stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) signaling pathways (Chen H. et al., 2024).