The role of CXCL12 in tumor microenvironment

The chemokine ligand C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) is a kind of small molecules of cytokines that widely expressed in diversified tissues. Recent evidence suggests that CXCL12 plays an important role in the communication of tumor cells with their surrounding microenvironment. The interaction of CXCL12 and its receptors subsequently excite the downstream signaling pathways to affect tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and chemoresistance, and thus represents a potential target for cancer therapy. Outpouring molecules targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in tumor microenvironment combined with traditional chemotherapy have drawn more and more attentions, which will be a promising method in anti-cancer therapies. Our review focuses on these roles of CXCL12 and summarizes strategies for treating cancer by disrupting this interaction with special emphasis on the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis.