Inflammatory chemokines in cancer growth and progression.
Leukocyte infiltration is a cardinal feature of almost all cancers. Chemokines are generally responsible for eliciting local accumulation of inflammatory cells and they appear to play the same role in the formation of peri- and intra-tumoural infiltrates. Chronic inflammation predisposes to cancer formation and progression, and it is likely that the chemokine system contributes to this process. In part, this may be a consequence of its ability to attract mononuclear cells to cancer sites, where they provide growth or angiogenic factors that enhance cancer development. However, accumulating evidence also points to a direct effect of chemokines on cancer cells that express chemokine receptors. In particular, some chemokines can activate anti-apoptotic pathways in these cells. By either mechanism, tumour cells that secrete and/or respond to chemokines would have a selective advantage. This provides another example of cancer's ability to co-opt host systems in order to promote tumour progression.
Rollins
Barrett J
BJ
Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. barrett_rollins@dfci.harvard.edu
D002455:Cell Division; D018925:Chemokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells
D018925:Chemokines