The role of chemokines and chemokine receptors in mycosis fungoides

Background: Chemokines are a family of cytokines initially characterized by their capacity to induce chemotaxis, or directed leukocyte migrations. These receptors are activated by chemotactic cytokines called chemokines. Interactions between chemokines and chemokine receptors also are involved in tumorigenesis, migration and invasion of lymphoma cells. Methods: An English literature search was performed using Medline (Through Pub med; from 1995 to 2011), with limiting factors of “chemokine” and “mycosis fungoides”. Peer-reviewed articles were selected for inclusion after excluding identical papers. After reviewing all the articles, a total of 34 papers about the role of chemokines in mycosis fungoides were selected to review. Results: The potential role of specific chemokine receptors and their chemokines, including CXCR3, CCR4, CCR10, and CCR7 in the pathophysiology of mycosis fungoides, and the role of chemokines in the treatment and outcome of mycosis fungoides were discussed. Conclusion: Knowing more about the mechanisms of chemokines/ chemokine receptors interaction and use of receptor antagonists or anti-receptor antibodies as therapeutic agents could be a new modality for treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma.