Figures & data
Figure 1. Systemic treatment with the CXCR4-antagonist AMD3100 significantly protects from sunlight-induced skin cancer by modulating mast cell migration. The exposure of mice to 30 wk of sun-simulating UV (UVA + UVB) light resulted in the development of histopathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) associated with elevated levels of chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4). This was associated with a significant accumulation of mast cells not just into the irradiated dermis, but also into neoplastic lesions and tumor-draining lymph nodes. Such an alteration of the migratory pattern of mast cells did not occur in mice continually supplied with AMD3100 in the drinking water. Moreover, AMD3100-receiving mice were protected from the immunosuppressive effects of UV light and developed very few SCCs.
