Possible contribution of CXCR4/CD44 for MRD. Our results show that the interaction between CXCR4 and CD44 upon CXCL12 stimulation may contribute to the maintenance of a stem cell–like phenotype in AML cells by inducing a transcriptional program driven by the core ESC-TFs, which promote their own transcription as well as that of other stemness target genes.²⁵ This upregulates CD44, which contributes to the maintenance of the phenotype in this environment. In parallel, antiapoptotic protein levels of the BCL-2 family are increased, potentiating resistance to apoptosis induced by venetoclax. Molecule cartoons were taken from ScienceSlides (VisiScience Corp) by licensed user X.Y.