Impact of Chemokine Axes on Survival and Tumor Progression in Ovarian Cancer

Chemokines, by binding to specific G protein-coupled receptors, orchestrate cell migration critical for development, inflammation, and immune responses. In cancer, chemokines regulate tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, stem-like cell traits, and metastasis, significantly influencing tumor immunity and disease progression. The chemokine profile within the tumor microenvironment shapes immune cell composition and intercellular interactions via distinct chemokine axes, thereby affecting cancer prognosis. Ovarian cancer primarily spreads within the peritoneal cavity through peritoneal dissemination, differently from hematogenous metastasis through blood and lymph vessel spread observed in other cancer types. This review synthesizes the multifaceted roles of chemokines in ovarian cancer, the deadliest gynecologic malignancy with poor survival rates. By integrating evidence from cell lines, animal models, and clinical studies, this work elucidates the pivotal role of chemokines in driving ovarian cancer progression and peritoneal metastasis. It highlights the differential impacts of specific chemokine axes on patient survival: CCL7/8-CCR2 and CXCL13-CXCR5 axes associated with improved outcomes; CXCL7-CXCR2, CXCL14, and CXCL12-CXCR7 axes linked to poorer survival; XCL1/2-XCR1, CCL15/16/23-CCR1, CCL11/15/26-CCR3, CCL4/11/16-CCR5, CCL27-CCR10, CXCL6-CXCR1, and CXCL17-CXCR8 axes showing no significant effect; and the CCL18 and CXCL11-CXCR3 axes yielding controversial results.