The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts: a transcriptome analysis and systematic literature review
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a pivotal component of the breast cancer microenvironment. In a paracrine model, CAFs secreted the chemokine CXCL12 (SDF-1α), which bound to CXCR4 and activated the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways, stimulating their migration and invasion. TGF-β1 induces myofibrob...