Advances of CXCL12-CXCR4/CXCR7 Biological Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the malignant tumors with the highest morbidity and mortality rates in the world. Studies have shown that CXCL12-CXCR4/CXCR7 biological axis can modulate the growth of HCC cells, angiogenesis, immune escape, invasion and metastasis via autocrine and/or paracrine mechanisms, and may become a new therapeutic target and valuable prognostic marker for HCC. This review aims to summarize the multiple functions of CXCL12-CXCR4/CXCR7 axis in HCC development and progression, as well as the signal transductions that are essential to this process.