CXCL14 is an autocrine growth factor for fibroblasts and acts as a multi-modal stimulator of prostate tumor growth

M Augsten, C Hägglöf, E Olsson… - Proceedings of the …, 2009 - National Acad Sciences
M Augsten, C Hägglöf, E Olsson, C Stolz, P Tsagozis, T Levchenko, MJ Frederick, Å Borg
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009National Acad Sciences
This study explored the role of secreted fibroblast-derived factors in prostate cancer growth.
Analyses of matched normal and tumor tissue revealed up-regulation of CXCL14 in cancer-
associated fibroblasts of a majority of prostate cancer. Fibroblasts over-expressing CXCL14
promoted the growth of prostate cancer xenografts, and increased tumor angiogenesis and
macrophage infiltration. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that autocrine CXCL14-
stimulation of fibroblasts stimulate migration and ERK-dependent proliferation of fibroblasts …
This study explored the role of secreted fibroblast-derived factors in prostate cancer growth. Analyses of matched normal and tumor tissue revealed up-regulation of CXCL14 in cancer-associated fibroblasts of a majority of prostate cancer. Fibroblasts over-expressing CXCL14 promoted the growth of prostate cancer xenografts, and increased tumor angiogenesis and macrophage infiltration. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that autocrine CXCL14-stimulation of fibroblasts stimulate migration and ERK-dependent proliferation of fibroblasts. CXCL14-stimulation of monocyte migration was also demonstrated. Furthermore, CXCL14-producing fibroblasts, but not recombinant CXCL14, enhanced in vitro proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells and in vivo angiogenesis. These studies thus identify CXCL14 as a novel autocrine stimulator of fibroblast growth and migration, with multi-modal tumor-stimulatory activities. In more general terms, our findings suggest autocrine stimulation of fibroblasts as a previously unrecognized mechanism for chemokine-mediated stimulation of tumor growth, and suggest a novel mechanism whereby cancer-associated fibroblasts achieve their pro-tumorigenic phenotype.
National Acad Sciences