CD44 and cancer: Zhao et al. validated the role of CAFs-lactate crosstalk in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC): they isolated patient-derived OSCC organoid CD44+ cancer stem cells (via flow sorting) and co-cultured them with autologous CAFs in Matrigel, showing CAFs enhance CD44+ cell organoid-forming ability and upregulate stemness markers (CD44, OCT-4) via lactate—effects blocked by inhibiting lactate production/uptake.