Clinical significance of CXCL13/CXCR5 axis in human cancers

As a family of small cytokines, chemokines were well known to contribute to the migration of cells, especially the inflammatory cells such as chemotactic granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages, and their functions are mediated by the corresponding receptors. Both chemokines and their receptors not only play an important role in the physiopathological process of inflammation and anaphylaxis, but also are involved in tumor growth and metastasis. For example, numerous studies have shown that chemokines can regulate the infiltration of leukocytes in tumor tissues, the tumor-associated angiogenesis, and the host-specific immune responses against tumors. Moreover, chemokines could also contribute to the regulation of cancer cell proliferation and motility through autocrine or paracrine processes. In the present review, we summarized the clinical significance and the function of CXCL13/CXCR5 axis in human cancers.