CD44 and cancer: Incoming signals from cancer cells to PIAS1+ CAFs were subtly altered, including integrin and laminin-mediated adhesion pathways (e.g., FN1–ITGAV_ITGB1, FN1–ITGA5_ITGB1, LAMB3–CD44 and LAMC2–CD44), which support basement membrane integrity rather than invasion [47] (Figure 5B).