In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, chemerin acts as a stromal factor overexpressed by cancer-associated myofibroblasts, recruiting CMKLR1-expressing mesenchymal stromal cells to the tumor microenvironment, thereby fostering a pro-invasive and pro-angiogenic stroma [31]. The gene discussed is CMKLR1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.