An Expanding Appreciation of the Role Chemokine Receptors Play in Cancer Progression

The contribution of small molecular weight chemoattractant cytokines (chemokines) and their receptors in the trafficking of tumor, immune and vascular cells pertaining to the development and progression of cancer has begun to be investigated. The current literature indicates that interactions between the immune network, angiogenic and cell survival cascades are important for the trafficking and progression of human cancer and that chemokines and chemokine receptors play a central role in these complex inter-related pathways. Several therapeutic approaches have been reviewed and suggest that the most promising arise from the development of combinations of chemokine receptor antagonists.