The role of CXC chemokines in the transition of chronic inflammation to esophageal and gastric cancer

Chronic inflammation may increase the risk to develop cancer, for instance esophagitis or gastritis may lead to development of esophageal or gastric cancer, respectively. The key molecules attracting leukocytes to local inflammatory sites are chemokines. We here provide a systematic review on the impact of CXC chemokines (binding the receptors CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3 and CXCR4) on the transition of chronic inflammation in the upper gastrointestinal tract to neoplasia. CXCR2 ligands, including GRO-α,β,γ/CXCL1,2,3, ENA-78/CXCL5 and IL-8/CXCL8 chemoattract pro-tumoral neutrophils. In addition, angiogenic CXCR2 ligands stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, facilitating tumor progression. The CXCR4 ligand SDF-1/CXCL12 also promotes tumor development by stimulating angiogenesis and by favoring metastasis of CXCR4-positive tumor cells to distant organs producing SDF-1/CXCL12. Furthermore, these angiogenic chemokines also directly enhance tumor cell survival and proliferation. In contrast, the CXCR3 ligands Mig/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10 and I-TAC/CXCL11 are angiostatic and attract anti-tumoral T lymphocytes and may therefore mediate tumor growth retardation and regression. Thus, chemokines exert diverging, sometimes dual roles in tumor biology as described for esophageal and gastric cancer. Therefore extensive research is needed to completely unravel the complex chemokine code in specific cancers. Possibly, chemokine-targeted cancer therapy will have to be adapted to the individual's chemokine profile.     

Chemokine receptor trio: CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 crosstalk via CXCL11 and CXCL12

Although chemokines are well established to function in immunity and endothelial cell activation and proliferation, a rapidly growing literature suggests that CXC Chemokine receptors CXCR3, CXCR4 and CXCR7 are critical in the development and progression of solid tumors. The effect of these chemokine receptors in tumorigenesis is mediated via interactions with shared ligands I-TAC (CXCL11) and SDF-1 (CXCL12). Over the last decade, CXCR4 has been extensively reported to be overexpressed in most human solid tumors and has earned considerable attention toward elucidating its role in cancer metastasis. To enrich the existing armamentarium of anti-cancerous agents, many inhibitors of CXCL12–CXCR4 axis have emerged as additional or alternative agents for neo-adjuvant treatments and even many of them are in preclinical and clinical stages of their development. However, the discovery of CXCR7 as another receptor for CXCL12 with rather high binding affinity and recent reports about its involvement in cancer progression, has questioned the potential of “selective blockade” of CXCR4 as cancer chemotherapeutics. Interestingly, CXCR7 can also bind another chemokine CXCL11, which is an established ligand for CXCR3. Recent reports have documented that CXCR3 and their ligands are overexpressed in different solid tumors and regulate tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, it is important to consider the interactions and crosstalk between these three chemokine receptors and their ligand mediated signaling cascades for the development of effective anti-cancer therapies. Emerging evidence also indicates that these receptors are differentially expressed in tumor endothelial cells as well as in cancer stem cells, suggesting their direct role in regulating tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. In this review, we will focus on the signals mediated by this receptor trio via their shared ligands and their role in tumor growth and progression.     

Mucosal angiogenesis regulation by CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 expressed by human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells

Mice genetically deficient in the chemokine receptor CXCR4 or its ligand stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1/CXCL12 die perinatally with marked defects in vascularization of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to define the expression and angiogenic functions of microvascular CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCL12 in the human intestinal tract. Studies of human colonic mucosa in vivo and primary cultures of human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMEC) in vitro showed that the intestinal microvasculature expresses CXCR4 and its cognate ligand SDF-1/CXCL12. Moreover, SDF-1/CXCL12 stimulation of HIMEC triggers CXCR4-linked G proteins, phosphorylates ERK1/2, and activates proliferative and chemotactic responses. Pharmacological studies indicate SDF-1/CXCL12 evokes HIMEC chemotaxis via activation of ERK1/2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathways. Consistent with chemotaxis and proliferation, endothelial tube formation was inhibited by neutralizing CXCR4 or SDF-1/CXCL12 antibodies, as well as the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD-98059. Taken together, these data demonstrate an important mechanistic role for CXCR4 and SDF-1/CXCL12 in regulating angiogenesis within the human intestinal mucosa.     

Glycosaminoglycans and syndecan-4 are involved in SDF-1/CXCL12-mediated invasion of human epitheloid carcinoma HeLa cells

Background

In addition to their physiologic effects in inflammation and angiogenesis, chemokines are involved in cancer pathology. The CXC-chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXCL12 mediates its biological activities through activation of G protein-coupled receptor CXCR4 and binds to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

Methods

Using Bio-coat cell migration chambers, specific antagonists, flow cytometry and RNA interference, we evaluate the involvement of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) in the SDF-1/CXCL12-induced invasion of human cervix epitheloid carcinoma HeLa cells.

Results

The SDF-1/CXCL12-induced cell invasion is dependent on CXCR4. Furthermore, Protein Kinase C delta (PKC δ) and c-jun NH2-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) are implicated in this event, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. Moreover, the invasion of HeLa cells induced by SDF-1/CXCL12 was dependent on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The pre-incubation of HeLa cells with heparin or with anti-heparan sulfate antibodies or with β-d-xyloside inhibited SDF-1/CXCL12-mediated cell invasion. Furthermore, the down-regulation of syndecan-4, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan, decreased SDF-1/CXCL12-mediated HeLa cell invasion. GAGs, probably on syndecan-4, are involved in SDF-1/CXCL12-mediated cell chemotaxis.

General significance

These data suggest that targeting the glycosaminoglycan/chemokine interaction could be a new therapeutic approach for carcinomas in which SDF-1/CXCL12 is involved.     

Stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha/CXCL12) stimulates ovarian cancer cell growth through the EGF receptor transactivation

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death in gynecologic diseases in which there is evidence for a complex chemokine network. Chemokines are a family of proteins that play an important role in tumor progression influencing cell proliferation, angiogenic/angiostatic processes, cell migration and metastasis, and, finally, regulating the immune cells recruitment into the tumor mass. We previously demonstrated that astrocytes and glioblastoma cells express both the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), and that SDF-1alpha treatment induced cell proliferation, supporting the hypothesis that chemokines may play an important role in tumor cells' growth in vitro. In the present study, we report that CXCR4 and SDF-1 are expressed in OC cell lines. We demonstrate that SDF-1alpha induces a dose-dependent proliferation in OC cells, by the specific interaction with CXCR4 and a biphasic activation of ERK1/2 and Akt kinases. Our results further indicate that CXCR4 activation induces EGF receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation that in turn was linked to the downstream intracellular kinases activation, ERK1/2 and Akt. In addition, we provide evidence for cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase (c-Src) involvement in the SDF-1/CXCR4-EGFR transactivation. These results suggest a possible important "cross-talk" between SDF-1/CXCR4 and EGFR intracellular pathways that may link signals of cell proliferation in ovarian cancer.     

The role of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptor CXCR4 (CD184) in small cell lung cancer

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer. Responsible for this highly malignant phenotype is an early and widespread metastasis with a high propensity of SCLC cells for bone marrow involvement and the ability to develop resistance against chemotherapeutic agents. Tumor cell migration and metastasis share many similarities with leukocyte trafficking, which is critically regulated by chemokines and adhesion molecules. There is growing evidence that the chemokine stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) and its receptor CXCR4 (CD184) regulate migration and metastasis of a variety of cancers including SCLC. SCLC cells express high levels of functional CXCR4 receptors. Engagement of CXCR4 by CXCL12 leads to an upregulation of integrin-mediated adhesion in SCLC and other tumor cells. Activation of CXCR4 chemokine receptors and integrins on SCLC cells promotes adhesion to accessory cells (such as stromal cells) and extracellular matrix molecules within the tumor microenvironment. These adhesive interactions result in an increased resistance of SCLC cells to chemotherapy. As such, inhibitors of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis and/or integrin activation may increase the chemosensitivity of SCLC cells and lead to new therapeutic avenues for patients with SCLC.     

CXCL12 (SDF-1) and CXCL13 (BCA-1) chemokines significantly induce proliferation and collagen type I expression in osteoblasts from osteoarthritis patients

To evaluate the role of CXC chemokines CXCL8 (IL8), CXCL10 (IP-10), CXCL12 (SDF-1), and CXCL13 (BCA-1) in bone remodeling, we analyzed their effects on osteoblasts (OBs) obtained from subchondral trabecular bone tissue of osteoarthritis (OA) and post-traumatic (PT) patients. The expression of CXC receptors/ligands (CXCR1/CXCL8, CXCR2/CXCL8, CXCR3/CXCL10, CXCR4/CXCL12, and CXCR5/CXCL13) was analyzed in cultured OBs by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Functional assays on CXC chemokine-treated-OBs in the presence or absence of their specific inhibitors were performed to analyze cellular proliferation and the enzymatic response to chemokine activation. The expression of chemokine ligands/receptors was also confirmed in bone tissue samples by immunohistochemical analysis. Collagen type I and alkaline phosphatase mRNA expression were analyzed on CXCL12- and CXCL13-treated OBs by real-time PCR. OBs from both OA and PT patients expressed high levels of CXCR3 and CXCR5 and lower amounts of CXCR1 and CXCR4. CXCL12 and CXCL13, only in OBs from OA patients, induced a significant proliferation that was also confirmed by specific blocking experiments. Moreover, OBs from OA patients released a higher amount of CXCL13 than those of PT patients while no differences were found for CXCL12. In the remodeling area of bone tissue samples, immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that OBs expressed CXCL12/CXCR4 and CXCL13/CXCR5 both in OA and PT samples. CXCL12 and CXCL13 upregulated collagen type I mRNA expression in OBs from OA patients. These data suggest that CXCL12 and CXCL13 may directly modulate cellular proliferation and collagen type I in OA patients, so contributing to the remodeling process that occurs in the evolution of this disease.     

趋化因子SD-1及其受体CXCR4在卵巢癌中的研究进展

基质细胞衍生因子-1(Stromal cell derived factor-1,SDF-1)是CXC趋化因子家族的重要成员,系统命名为CXCL12,能与它的唯一受体CXC趋化因子受体-4(CXC chemokine receptor-4,CXCR4)形成CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴,CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴在肿瘤生长、侵袭、转移过程中发生重要作用。到目前为止,已发现CXCL12-CXCR4在卵巢癌、胰腺癌、肝癌等多种肿瘤组织中表达。然而,国内目前还没有关于CXCL12-CXCR4与卵巢癌关系的相关综述,本文将从趋化因子CXCL12及其受体CXCR4,CXCL12/CXCR4轴与卵巢癌细胞系实验研究,CXCL12-CXCR4轴与卵巢癌的临床研究,CXCL12/CXCR4与卵巢癌预后,CXCL12/CXCR4与卵巢癌治疗展望等五个方面对CXCL12-CXCR4生物轴与卵巢癌的关系,及其在卵巢癌治疗中的应用展开综述。     

Diverse signaling pathways through the SDF-1/CXCR4 chemokine axis in prostate cancer cell lines leads to altered patterns of cytokine secretion and angiogenesis

The establishment of metastatic bone lesions in prostate cancer (CaP) is a process partially dependent on angiogenesis. Previously we demonstrated that the stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12)/CXCR4 chemokine axis is critical for CaP cell metastasis. In this investigation, cell lines were established in which CXCR4 expression was knocked down using siRNA technology. When CaP cells were co-transplanted with human vascular endothelial cells into SCID mice, significantly fewer human blood vessels were observed paralleling the reductions in CXCR4 levels. Likewise, the invasive behaviors of the CaP cells were inhibited in vitro. From these functional observations we explored angiogenic and signaling mechanisms generated following SDF-1 binding to CXCR4. Differential activation of the MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways that result in differential secretion IL-6, IL-8, TIMP-2 and VEGF were seen contingent on the cell type examined; VEGF and TIMP-2 expression in PC3 cells are dependent on AKT activation and ERK activation in LNCaP and LNCaP C4-2B cells leads to IL-6 or IL-8 secretion. At the same time, expression of angiostatin levels were inversely related to CXCR4 levels, and inhibited by SDF-1 stimulation. These data link the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway to changes in angiogenic cytokines by different signaling mechanisms and, suggest that the delicate equilibrium between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors may be achieved by different signal transduction pathways to regulate the angiogenic phenotype of prostate cancers. Taken together, our results provide new information regarding expression of functional CXCR4 receptor-an essential role and potential mechanism of angiogenesis upon SDF-1 stimulation.     

Regulation of CXC chemokine receptor 4-mediated migration by the Tec family tyrosine kinase ITK

Chemokines are critical in controlling lymphocyte traffic and migration. The CXC chemokine CXCL12/SDF-1alpha interacts with its receptor CXCR4 to induce the migration of a number of different cell types. Although an understanding of the physiological functions of this chemokine is emerging, the mechanism by which it regulates T cell migration is still unclear. We show here that the Tec family kinase ITK is activated rapidly following CXCL12/SDF-1alpha stimulation, and this requires Src and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activities. ITK regulates the ability of CXCL12/SDF-1alpha to induce T cell migration as overexpression of wild-type ITK-enhanced migration, and T cells lacking ITK exhibit reduced migration as well as adhesion in response to CXCL12/SDF-1alpha. Further analysis suggests that ITK may regulate CXCR4-mediated migration and adhesion by altering the actin cytoskeleton, as ITK null T cells were significantly defective in CXCL12/SDF-1a-mediated actin polymerization. Our data suggest that ITK may regulate the ability of CXCR4 to induce T cell migration.     

Grk2 is an Essential Regulator of CXCR7 Signalling in Astrocytes

We previously demonstrated that in astrocytes, SDF-1/CXCL12 exclusively signals through CXCR7 despite the additional presence of the alternate SDF-1/CXCL12 receptor, CXCR4. In addition, we provided evidence that astrocytic CXCR7-signalling involves a G protein-dependent mechanism. This is insofar remarkable as in all other cell types studied to date, CXCR7 either acts as a scavenger chemokine receptor, a modulator of CXCR4, or a non-classical chemokine receptor, signalling through ß-arrestin. To begin to unravel the molecular framework impinging the selective function of CXCR7 on a given cell type, we have now analysed the role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (Grks) in astrocytic CXCR7 signalling. We demonstrate that Grk2 mediates signalling of SDF-1/CXCL12-bound CXCR7 as suggested by the finding that SDF-1/CXCL12-induced activation of Erk1/2 and Akt is abrogated following RNAi-mediated inhibition of Grk2, but not of Grk3, Grk5, or Grk6. We further unravel that Grk2 additionally controls signalling of SDF-1/CXCL12-bound CXCR7 in astrocytes by mediating internalization and subsequent silencing of CXCR7. Finally, we demonstrate that Grk2 is likewise expressed by microglial cells and Schwann cells, cell types in which CXCR7 does not act as a classical chemokine receptor. In conclusion, our findings establish that Grk2 tightly controls CXCR7 signalling in astrocytes, but does not imprint the cell type-specific function of this chemokine receptor.     

SDF-1/CXCR4在肿瘤信号转导中作用的分子机制

CXC趋化因子受体4(CXCR4)是最主要的趋化因子受体之一,在多种类型细胞中均有表达,包括淋巴细胞、造血干细胞、内皮细胞和肿瘤细胞。CXCR4与其配体——基质细胞衍生因子1(SDF-1)(也称CXCL12)结合,能介导多种与细胞趋化、细胞存活或增殖相关信号传导通路。CXCR4与SDF-1轴涉及肿瘤的恶性演进、血管生成、转移和存活。因此,阻断CXCR4与SDF-1轴及下游信号通路成为相关治疗的分子靶标。     

Prostate tumor CXC-chemokine profile correlates with cell adhesion to endothelium and extracellular matrix

Though chemokines of the CXC family are thought to play key roles in neoplastic transformation and tumor invasion, information about CXC chemokines in prostate cancer is sparse. To evaluate the involvement of CXC chemokines in prostate cancer, we analyzed the CXC coding mRNA of both chemokine ligands (CXCL) and chemokine receptors (CXCR), using the prostate carcinoma cell lines PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP. CXCR proteins were further evaluated by Western blot, CXCR surface expression by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The expression pattern was correlated to adherence of the tumor cells to an endothelial cell monolayer or to extracellular matrix components. Based on growth and adhesion capacity, PC-3 and DU-145 were identified to be highly aggressive tumor cells (PC-3>DU-145), whereas LNCaP belonged to the low aggressive phenotype. CXCL1, CXCL3, CXCL5 and CXCL6 mRNA, chemokines with pro-angiogenic activity, were strongly expressed in DU-145 and PC-3, but not in LNCaP. CXCR3 and CXCR4 surface level differed in the following order: LNCaP>DU-145>PC-3. The differentiation factor, fatty acid valproic acid, induced intracellular CXCR accumulation. Therefore, prostate tumor malignancy might be accompanied by enhanced synthesis of angiogenesis stimulating CXC chemokines. Further, shifting CXCR3 and CXCR4 from the cell surface to the cytoplasm might activate pro-tumoral signalling events and indicate progression from a low to a highly aggressive phenotype.     

Synthetic chemokines directly labeled with a fluorescent dye as tools for studying chemokine and chemokine receptor interactions

Chemokines constitute a protein family that exhibit a variety of biological activities involved in normal and pathological physiological processes. CCL11 (eotaxin), CCL19 (MIP-3beta), CCL22 (MDC), CXCL11 (I-TAC) and CXCL12 (SDF-1alpha) chemokines, modified with the Alexa Fluor 647 fluorescent dye at specific positions along their sequence, were produced by a chemical route and their biological activities were characterized. In a migration assay, fluorescent chemokines were as biologically active as the unmodified forms. All labeled chemokines specifically stained cell lines transfected with the appropriate human chemokine receptors. The specificity of binding was further established by showing that the unlabeled ligands efficiently competed with the labeled chemokines for binding to their respective receptor. A low molecular weight antagonist of CXCR4 prevented binding of labeled CXCL12 to CXCR4 comparably to a neutralizing anti-CXCR4 antibody. Finally, labeled CCL19 was used for the staining of primary cells, illustrating that this reagent can be used for studying CCR7 expression on different cell types. Together, these results demonstrate that fluorescent synthetic chemokines constitute promising ligands for the development of chemokine receptor-binding assays on intact cells, for applications such as cell-based, high throughput screening, and studies of chemokine receptor expression by primary cells.     

The Chemokine CXCL16 and Its Receptor,CXCR6, as Markers and Promoters of Inflammation-Associated Cancers

Clinical observations and mouse models have suggested that inflammation can be pro-tumorigenic. Since chemokines are critical in leukocyte trafficking, we hypothesized that chemokines play essential roles in inflammation-associated cancers. Screening for 37 chemokines in prostate cancer cell lines and xenografts revealed CXCL16, the ligand for the receptor CXCR6, as the most consistently expressed chemokine. Immunohistochemistry and/or immunofluorescence and confocal imaging of 121 human prostate specimens showed that CXCL16 and CXCR6 were co-expressed, both on prostate cancer cells and adjacent T cells. Expression levels of CXCL16 and CXCR6 on cancer cells correlated with poor prognostic features including high-stage and high-grade, and expression also correlated with post-inflammatory changes in the cancer stroma as revealed by loss of alpha-smooth muscle actin. Moreover, CXCL16 enhanced the growth of CXCR6-expressing cancer and primary CD4 T cells. We studied expression of CXCL16 in an additional 461 specimens covering 12 tumor types, and found that CXCL16 was expressed in multiple human cancers associated with inflammation. Our study is the first to describe the expression of CXCL16/CXCR6 on both cancer cells and adjacent T cells in humans, and to demonstrate correlations between CXCL16 and CXCR6 vs. poor both prognostic features and reactive changes in cancer stoma. Taken together, our data suggest that CXCL16 and CXCR6 may mark cancers arising in an inflammatory milieu and mediate pro-tumorigenic effects of inflammation through direct effects on cancer cell growth and by inducing the migration and proliferation of tumor-associated leukocytes.     

CXCR3, a double-edged sword in tumor progression and angiogenesis

CXC chemokines are involved in chemotaxis, regulation of cell growth, induction of apoptosis and modulation of angiostatic effects. CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL4 and its variant CXCL4L1 are members of the CXC chemokine family, which bind to the CXCR3 receptor to exert their biological effects. These chemokines are associated with a variety of human diseases including chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, cancer and metastasis. In this review, we focus on accumulating evidence demonstrating the pivotal role of CXCR3 in tumor progression. Its effects are mediated directly in tumor cells or indirectly through the regulation of angiogenesis and tumor immunity. Understanding the emerging role of CXCR3 and its signaling mechanisms further validates this receptor as a biomarker and therapeutic target for tumor progression and tumor angiogenesis.     

The role of CXCR2/CXCR2 ligand biological axis in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 3% of new cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. Studies in RCC have predominantly focused on VEGF in promoting tumor-associated angiogenesis. However, other angiogenic factors may contribute to the overall angiogenic milieu of RCC. We hypothesized that the CXCR2/CXCR2 ligand biological axis represents a mechanism by which RCC cells promote angiogenesis and facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, we first examined tumor biopsies and plasma of patients with metastatic RCC for levels of CXCR2 ligands, and RCC tumor biopsies for the expression of CXCR2. The proangiogenic CXCR2 ligands CXCL1, CXCL3, CXCL5, and CXCL8, as well as VEGF were elevated in the plasma of these patients and found to be expressed within the tumors. CXCR2 was found to be expressed on endothelial cells within the tumors. To assess the role of ELR(+) CXC chemokines in RCC, we next used a model of syngeneic RCC (i.e., RENCA) in BALB/c mice. CXCR2 ligand and VEGF expression temporally increased in direct correlation with RENCA growth in CXCR2(+/+) mice. However, there was a marked reduction of RENCA tumor growth in CXCR2(-/-) mice, which correlated with decreased angiogenesis and increased tumor necrosis. Furthermore, in the absence of CXCR2, orthotopic RENCA tumors demonstrated a reduced potential to metastasize to the lungs of CXCR2(-/-) mice. These data support the notion that CXCR2/CXCR2 ligand biology is an important component of RCC tumor-associated angiogenesis and tumorigenesis.     

CXC chemokine ligand 12 (stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha) and CXCR4-dependent migration of CTLs toward melanoma cells in organotypic culture

Studies in experimental animal models have demonstrated that chemokines produced by tumor cells attract chemokine receptor-positive T lymphocytes into the tumor area, which may lead to tumor growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo. However, in cancer patients, the role of chemokines in T lymphocyte trafficking toward human tumor cells is relatively unexplored. In the present study, the role of chemokines and their receptors in the migration of a melanoma patient's CTL toward autologous tumor cells has been studied in a novel organotypic melanoma culture, consisting of a bottom layer of collagen type I with embedded fibroblasts followed successively by a tumor cell layer, collagen/fibroblast separating layer, and, finally, a top layer of collagen with embedded fibroblasts and T cells. In this model, CTL migrated from the top layer through the separating layer toward tumor cells, resulting in tumor cell apoptosis. CTL migration was mediated by chemokine receptor CXCR4 expressed by the CTL and CXCL12 (stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha) secreted by tumor cells, as evidenced by blockage of CTL migration by Abs to CXCL12 or CXCR4, high concentrations of CXCL12 or small molecule CXCR4 antagonist. These studies, together with studies in mice indicating regression of CXCL12-transduced tumor cells, followed by regression of nontransduced challenge tumor cells, suggest that CXCL12 may be useful as an immunotherapeutic agent for cancer patients, when transduced into tumor cells, or fused to anti-tumor Ag Ab or tumor Ag.