Cancer-associated fibroblasts-derived CAV1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness in bladder cancer through activation of the LIF/STAT3 signaling pathway.
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the bladder cancer microenvironment, but how specific CAF subpopulations drive malignant progression remains unclear. This study aimed to identify CAF driver genes and elucidate the role of caveolin-1 (CAV1) in CAF-mediated bladder cancer progression...