CXC chemokines and prostate cancer: growth regulators and potential biomarkers

CXC chemokines are a subset of chemotactic cytokines that possess angiogenic or angiostatic properties. Using genetically engineered mice lacking the receptors for these ligands, recent research has demonstrated a significant role for CXC chemokines in the development and growth of prostate tumors. The Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC), which only binds to CXC chemokines that have angiogenic properties, is a nonsignaling receptor expressed on erythrocytes that appears to function by clearing these chemokines from sites of overproduction. The majority of men of African descent lack this receptor on their erythrocytes, suggesting that loss of this receptor may contribute to aggressive tumor phenotypes in these individuals. Thus, CXC chemokines and the erythrocyte DARC may serve as important growth regulators and biomarkers for prostate cancer stage and progression.