@article{8093,
  abstract     = {Background: The activation of the EGFR/Ras-signalling pathway in tumour cells induces a distinct chemokine repertoire, which in turn modulates the tumour microenvironment.
Methods: The effects of EGFR/Ras on the expression and translation of CCL20 were analysed in a large set of epithelial cancer cell lines and tumour tissues by RT-qPCR and ELISA in vitro. CCL20 production was verified by immunohistochemistry in different tumour tissues and correlated with clinical data. The effects of CCL20 on endothelial cell migration and tumour-associated vascularisation were comprehensively analysed with chemotaxis assays in vitro and in CCR6-deficient mice in vivo.
Results: Tumours facilitate progression by the EGFR/Ras-induced production of CCL20. Expression of the chemokine CCL20 in tumours correlates with advanced tumour stage, increased lymph node metastasis and decreased survival in patients. Microvascular endothelial cells abundantly express the specific CCL20 receptor CCR6. CCR6 signalling in endothelial cells induces angiogenesis. CCR6-deficient mice show significantly decreased tumour growth and tumour-associated vascularisation. The observed phenotype is dependent on CCR6 deficiency in stromal cells but not within the immune system.
Conclusion: We propose that the chemokine axis CCL20–CCR6 represents a novel and promising target to interfere with the tumour microenvironment, and opens an innovative multimodal strategy for cancer therapy.},
  author       = {Hippe, Andreas and Braun, Stephan Alexander and Oláh, Péter and Gerber, Peter Arne and Schorr, Anne and Seeliger, Stephan and Holtz, Stephanie and Jannasch, Katharina and Pivarcsi, Andor and Buhren, Bettina and Schrumpf, Holger and Kislat, Andreas and Bünemann, Erich and Steinhoff, Martin and Fischer, Jens and Lira, Sérgio A. and Boukamp, Petra and Hevezi, Peter and Stoecklein, Nikolas Hendrik and Hoffmann, Thomas and Alves, Frauke and Sleeman, Jonathan and Bauer, Thomas and Klufa, Jörg and Amberg, Nicole and Sibilia, Maria and Zlotnik, Albert and Müller-Homey, Anja and Homey, Bernhard},
  issn         = {1532-1827},
  journal      = {British Journal of Cancer},
  pages        = {942--954},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{EGFR/Ras-induced CCL20 production modulates the tumour microenvironment}},
  doi          = {10.1038/s41416-020-0943-2},
  volume       = {123},
  year         = {2020},
}