Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
9
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-11-10
pubmed:abstractText
Chemokines exert their multifunctional role in several physiologic and pathologic processes through interaction with their specific receptors. Much evidence have revealed that metastatic spread tumor cells may use chemokine-mediated mechanisms. In particular, an involvement of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in growth of primary tumors and in metastatic process has been demonstrated. Indeed, it has been suggested that CXCR4 expression by tumor cells, plays a critical role in cell metastasis by a chemotactic gradient to organs expressing the ligand SDF-1. Moreover, CXCR4 overexpression correlated with poor prognosis in many types of cancer. In physiologic condition, SDF-1 also plays an essential role modulating stem cell proliferation, survival, and homing through its canonical receptor CXCR4. Recently, several studies have demonstrated the existence of a small subset of cancer cells which share many characteristics with stem cells and named cancer stem cells (CSC). They constitute a reservoir of self-sustaining cells with the ability to maintain the tumor growth. In particular, most of them express CXCR4 receptor and respond to a chemotactic gradient of its specific ligand SDF-1, suggesting that CSC probably represent a subpopulation capable of initiating metastasis. This review focuses on the role of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in cancer and in the metastatic progression by tumoral cells, as well as the role of CSC in tumor pathogenesis and in metastatic process. A better understanding of migratory mechanism involving cancer cells and CSC provides a powerful tool for developing novel therapies reducing both local and distant recurrences.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
1720-8386
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
31
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
809-19
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
The critical role of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in cancer and cancer stem cells metastasis.
pubmed:affiliation
Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review