CD44 and cancer: In addition to stemness signature, CD44-initiated adhesion orchestrates the expression and activation of β1-integrin receptors, promoting the interaction of β1 integrins with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, thereby facilitating cell mobility in multiple tumors.41,42 We also found that a subset of integrinβ+CD44+ cancer cells were significantly reduced in hepatic Mif knockdown group (Fig. 4h).