title: Role of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review focuses on the state-of-the-art of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer and its role in tumor progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant articles published in English were identified by searching in Pubmed from 1997 to 2013, with keywords "CXCL12", "CXCR4" and "pancreatic cancer". Important references from selected articles were also retrieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles about CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer and relevant mechanisms were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pancreatic cancer has been one of the most lethal human malignancies, with median survival less than one year and overall 5-year survival only 6%. Tumor cells from pancreatic cancer express high level of CXCR4. CXCL12, the ligand for CXCR4, is extensively secreted by neighboring stromal cells and other distant organs. CXCL12 primarily binds to CXCR4, induces intracellular signaling through several divergent pathways, which are involved in progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis may play an important role in the communication between pancreatic cancer cells and their microenvironment, which may have effect on tumor proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and chemoresistance. CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis may serves as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Peng-Fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zi-Peng
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Bao-Bao
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Kui-Rong
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
mesh_terms: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4