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Involvement of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in colorectal cancer: a mini-review

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Abstract

Migration of metastatic tumor cells is similar to the traffic of leukocytes and has been reported that can be guided by chemokines and their receptors, through the circulation to distant organs. The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 play an essential role in hematopoietic stem cell homing and the activation of this axis supports malignant events. Binding of CXCL12 to CXCR4 activates signal transduction pathways, with broad effects on chemotaxis, cell proliferation, migration and gene expression. Thus, this axis serves as a bridge for tumor-stromal cell communication, creating a permissive microenvironment for tumor development, survival, angiogenesis and metastasis. Evidence suggests that this axis may be involved in the colorectal cancer (CRC) carcinogenesis. Therefore, we review emerging data and correlations between CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in CRC, the implications for cancer progression and possible therapeutic strategies that exploit this system.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for Brazilian Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES), for the scholarship granted to MB.

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  1. Oncology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Health Sciences Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil

    Mayara Bocchi, Nathália de Sousa Pereira, Karen Brajão de Oliveira & Marla Karine Amarante

  2. Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Sciences Center, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil

    Karen Brajão de Oliveira

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Conceptualization: [Mayara Bocchi], [Nathália de Sousa Pereira], [Karen Brajão de Oliveira], [Marla Karine Amarante]; Literature search, data analysis and manuscript draft: [Mayara Bocchi]; Critical revision: [Nathália de Sousa Pereira], [Karen Brajão de Oliveira], [Marla Karine Amarante].

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Bocchi, M., de Sousa Pereira, N., de Oliveira, K.B. et al. Involvement of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in colorectal cancer: a mini-review. Mol Biol Rep 50, 6233–6239 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-08479-1

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