[Chemokines, tumor growth and angiogenesis]

The immune surveillance represents an important defence mechanism of immediate destruction of the transformed malignant cells that daily arise in our body. Immune mechanisms play a great role also in the development of anti-tumour immunity. However, sometimes it occurs that the mechanisms of the immune system are misused by host cells for their own profit. This is also the case of chemokines. It was found out that malignant tumours produce chemokines with angiogenic activity which results in the formation of new blood vessels within the tumour. In this way the tumour ensures its blood supply. This not only enhances the tumour growth, however facilitates also the metastatic process. In addition to the latter the tumour growth is further enhanced by the influence of chemokines on the production of factors with immunosuppressive activity. (Fig. 3, Ref. 48.)