CXCL1 and neoplasm: Human cytokine array identified CXCL1 upregulation in CAF-CM; validated by qRT-PCR and Western blot. CCK-8 assay assessed CXCL1-induced proliferation, and CXCR2 inhibitor (SB225002) confirmed pathway specificity. In vivo, DEC2hi OSCC cells co-injected with CAFs into nude mice showed dormancy reactivation, verified by tumor volume measurement, IHC (DEC2, α-SMA), and qRT-PCR of dormancy markers (p21, p27, NR2F1).