PMID- 33710803 OWN - NLM STAT- Publisher LR - 20240222 IS - 2095-3941 (Print) IS - 2095-3941 (Linking) VI - 18 IP - 2 DP - 2021 Mar 12 TI - The biological role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. PG - 401-10 LID - j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0140 [pii] LID - 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0140 [doi] AB - Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common malignant tumor and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main histological type of esophageal cancer, and accounts for 90% of all cancer cases. Despite the progress made in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the mortality rate from esophageal cancer remains high, and the overall 5-year survival rate is less than 20%, even in developed countries. The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) is a member of the CXC chemokine subgroup, which is widely expressed in a variety of tissues and cells. CXCL12 participates in the regulation of many physiological and pathological processes by binding to its specific receptor, C-X-C motif chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), where it causes embryonic development, immune response, and angiogenesis. In addition, increasing evidence indicates that the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays an important role in the biological processes of tumor cells. Studies have shown that CXCL12 and its receptor, CXCR4, are highly expressed in ESCC. This abnormal expression contributes to tumor proliferation, lymph node and distant metastases, and worsening prognosis. At present, antagonists and imaging agents against CXCL12 or CXCR4 have been developed to interfere with the malignant process and monitor metastasis of tumors. This article summarizes the structure, function, and regulatory mechanism of CXCL12/CXCR4 and its role in the malignancy of ESCC. Current results from preclinical research targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 are also summarized to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ESCC. CI - Copyright (c) 2021 Cancer Biology & Medicine. FAU - Wu, Xianxian AU - Wu X AD - Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China. FAU - Zhang, Hongdian AU - Zhang H AD - Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China. FAU - Sui, Zhilin AU - Sui Z AD - Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China. FAU - Wang, Yang AU - Wang Y AD - Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China. FAU - Yu, Zhentao AU - Yu Z AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-5785-8492 AD - Departments of Esophageal Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China. LA - eng GR - 81772619/National Natural Science Foundation of China/ GR - 81702405/National Natural Science Foundation of China/ GR - 320.6750.17519/Wu Jieping Medical Foundation/ GR - HZB-20190528-18/Bethune Charitable Foundation/ GR - 19JCQNJC10800/Tianjin Natural Science Foundation for Youth/ PT - Journal Article PT - Review DEP - 20210312 PL - China TA - Cancer Biol Med JT - Cancer biology & medicine JID - 101588850 SB - IM PMC - PMC8185864 OTO - NOTNLM OT - C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 OT - CXC chemokine receptor 4 OT - Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma OT - antagonists OT - imaging agent COIS- No potential conflicts of interest are disclosed. EDAT- 2021/03/13 06:00 MHDA- 2021/03/13 06:00 PMCR- 2021/05/15 CRDT- 2021/03/12 13:05 PHST- 2021/03/12 13:05 [entrez] PHST- 2021/03/13 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2021/03/13 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2021/05/15 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0140 [pii] AID - 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0140 [doi] PST - aheadofprint SO - Cancer Biol Med. 2021 Mar 12;18(2):401-10. doi: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0140.