Pancreatic cancer stem cell markers and exosomes - the incentive push

Figure 4 CXCR4, a marker of migrating cancer stem cells. CXCR4 becomes activated by SDF1 binding, which in concert with CD44, integrins and HSP initiates several signaling cascades that promote directed motility. CXCR4 also activates the PI3K/Akt pathway promoting antiapoptotic protein activation and prosurvival gene transcription. Activated CXCR4 becomes recruited into GEM, where in Pa-CSC the association with Tspan8 supports internalization. CXCR4 is recovered in TEX. In Pa-CSC CXCR4 cooperates with CD44(v6), laminin binding integrins and Tspan8 in TEM and is recruited into TEX. CSC: Cancer stem cells; GEM: Glycolipid-enriched microdomains; NFκB: Nuclear factor κB; TEX: Tumor exosomes; HSP: Heat shock protein; PLC: Phospholipase C; PKC: Phophokinase C; PI3K: Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bophosphate 3 kinase; MAPK: Mitogen-activazed protein kinase; SDF1: Stroma-derived factor 1.