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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4
06:56

A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4

Published on: March 10, 2018

Interaction between CXCR4 and CCL20 pathways regulates tumor growth

Katia Beider1, Michal Abraham, Michal Begin

  • 1Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

Plos One
|April 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 stimulates CCL20 production, promoting tumor cell proliferation and growth. Neutralizing CCL20 inhibits tumor growth, suggesting CCL20 antagonists as potential cancer therapeutics.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • CXCR4 and CXCL12 are overexpressed in many tumors, driving tumor development and metastasis.
  • CXCL12 (SDF-1) is produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), while CXCR4 is on tumor cells.
  • CCL20 is also overexpressed in tumors, but its specific role and regulation remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in regulating CCL20 production.
  • To determine the effects of CCL20 on tumor cell behavior, including proliferation and adhesion.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of targeting CCL20 in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the relationship between CXCR4 and CCL20 production in tumor cells.
  • Assessed the impact of CCL20 on tumor cell proliferation and collagen adhesion in vitro.
  • Evaluated tumor growth and invasiveness in vivo following CCL20 overexpression.
  • Utilized neutralizing antibodies against CCL20 to inhibit tumor growth in vivo.

Main Results:

  • CXCR4 stimulation leads to increased production of CCL20.
  • CCL20 enhances tumor cell proliferation and adhesion to collagen.
  • Overexpression of CCL20 promotes tumor growth and invasiveness both in vitro and in vivo.
  • CCL20-neutralizing antibodies effectively inhibit the growth of tumors overexpressing CXCR4, CCL20, or naturally expressing CCL20.

Conclusions:

  • CCL20 plays a significant role in both CXCR4-dependent and -independent tumor progression.
  • Targeting CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 offers a promising therapeutic strategy for various malignancies.

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