Fractalkine/CX3C chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1) is a chemokine involved in the anticancer function of lymphocytes-mainly NK cells, T cells and dendritic cells. Its increased levels in tumors improve the prognosis for cancer patients, although it is also associated with a poorer prognosis in some types of cancers, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This work focuses on the 'hallmarks of cancer' involving CX3CL1 and its receptor CX3CR1. First, we describe signal transduction from CX3CR1 and the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in this process. Next, we present the role of CX3CL1 in the context of cancer, with the focus on angiogenesis, apoptosis resistance and migration and invasion of cancer cells. In particular, we discuss perineural invasion, spinal metastasis and bone metastasis of cancers such as breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer. We extensively discuss the importance of CX3CL1 in the interaction with different cells in the tumor niche: tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and microglia. We present the role of CX3CL1 in the development of active human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumors. Finally, we discuss the possible use of CX3CL1 in immunotherapy.
Keywords: CX3CL1; CX3CR1; cancer; chemokine; fractalkine; metastasis.