A key pro-metastatic axis identified with the help of single-cell technologies involves a chemoresistant, chemokine receptor type 4-positive (CXCR4+) and glutathione peroxidase 4-positive (GPX4+) tumor cell subpopulation with notable enhanced migratory capacity and ferroptosis resistance, as well as a NOX4+TGFB1+CXCL12+ CAF population involved in immune regulatory pathways (Z. Wu et al., 2025). The gene discussed is CXCL12; the disease is neoplasm.