CXCL12–CXCR4 contributes to the implication of bone marrow in cancer metastasis

Abstract

ABSTRACT:  The CXCL12–CXCR4 axis is postulated to be a key pathway in the interaction between (cancer) stem cells and their surrounding supportive cells in the (cancer) stem cell niche. As the bone marrow constitutes a unique microenvironment for cancer cells, the CXCL12–CXCR4 axis assists the bone marrow in regulating cancer progression. This interaction can be disrupted by CXCR4 antagonists, and this concept is being used clinically to harvest hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from the bone marrow. The functions of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis in cancer cell–tumor microenvironment interaction and angiogenesis have been recently studied. This review focuses on how CXCL12–CXCR4 helps the bone marrow in creating a tumor mircoenvironment that results in the cancer metastasis. It also discusses ongoing research regarding the clinical feasibility of CXCR4 inhibitors.