Abstract
Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines produced by leukocytes and other types of cells including tumor cells. Tumor cells also express functional chemokine receptors responding to chemokine signals, promoting cell survival, prolirferation and metastasis formation.
Significant concentrations of chemokines are found in the tumor adjacent, non-vascular fluids, collectively called tumor proximal fluids. This review summarizes the expression of CC and CXC chemokines in these fluids.
Increased chemokine levels are found in high-grade tumor proximal fluids rather than in low-grade tumors and benign conditions. The data confirm peritumoral fluid chemokines as sensitive diagnostic and prognostic markers, as well as offer support for chemokines and their receptors as potential targets for antitumor therapy.