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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
07:41
A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators
Published on: February 20, 2018
CXCR4 and cancer
Bungo Furusato1, Ahmed Mohamed, Mathias Uhlén
1Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences, 1530 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
Pathology International
|July 3, 2010
Summary
The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is vital for immune cell movement and cancer progression. Its dysregulation promotes cancer metastasis and impacts patient prognosis, highlighting its role in cancer stem cell trafficking.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- CXCR4, a G protein-coupled receptor, is key in immune cell trafficking and homeostasis.
- CXCR4 is a prognostic marker in leukemia and breast cancer, with emerging roles in prostate cancer.
- CXCR4 expression increases during cancer metastasis, enhancing signaling and promoting tumor progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on CXCR4 regulation in cancer.
- To explore how CXCR4 deregulation contributes to cancer progression and metastasis.
- To highlight the role of the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis in cancer stem cell trafficking.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on CXCR4 function and regulation.
- Analysis of CXCR4's role in various cancer types and metastasis.
- Examination of the CXCR4-CXCL12 axis in stem cell biology and cancer.
Main Results:
- CXCR4 is crucial for immune cell trafficking and homeostasis.
- CXCR4 upregulation correlates with cancer progression and metastasis.
- The CXCR4-CXCL12 axis influences cancer stem cell homing and metastasis to organs like lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and bone.
Conclusions:
- CXCR4 plays a significant role in cancer development and progression.
- Understanding CXCR4 regulation is critical for targeting cancer metastasis.
- The CXCR4-CXCL12 pathway is a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting cancer spread.
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