Breast cancer is characterized by a distinct metastatic pattern involving the regional lymph nodes, bone marrow, lung and liver. Tumour cell migration and metastasis share many similarities with leukocyte trafficking, which is critically regulated by chemokines and their receptors. Here we report that the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR7 are highly expressed in human breast cancer cells, malignant breast tumours and metastases. Their respective ligands CXCL12/SDF-1alpha and CCL21/6Ckine exhibit peak levels of expression in organs representing the first destinations of breast cancer metastasis. In breast cancer cells, signalling through CXCR4 or CCR7 mediates actin polymerization and pseudopodia formation, and subsequently induces chemotactic and invasive responses. In vivo, neutralizing the interactions of CXCL12/CXCR4 significantly impairs metastasis of breast cancer cells to regional lymph nodes and lung. Malignant melanoma, which has a similar metastatic pattern as breast cancer but also a high incidence of skin metastases, shows high expression levels of CCR10 in addition to CXCR4 and CCR7. Our findings indicate that chemokines and their receptors have a critical role in determining the metastatic destination of tumour cells.

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The IRX-2 immunotherapy induced lymphocyte mobilization and infiltration in H&N SCC associated with clinical and histological tumor responses indicative of immune regression in all 15 patients. Minimal toxic effects were observed, and overall survival may have been improved. A phase 3 trial seems warranted.

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El sector agropecuario en México es cada vez menos competitivo, dado que existe una creciente importación de alimentos, lo que implica la existencia de menor capacidad de producirlos y distribuirlos en el mercado. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue analizar indicadores macroeconómicos, para cuantif icar la competitividad del sector agropecuario en México y su tendencia, dentro de un marco de apertura comercial. La competitividad aditiva revelada resultó menor de cero, con una tendencia decreciente. Alavez,laautosuficienciaalimentaria,labalanzacomercial, el producto interno bruto agropecuario (PIBA) en relación al PIB nacional, PIBA per capita nominal y el salario por productividad, presentaron una tendencia signif icativa a disminuir, con lo que la base macroeconómica no será un pilar adecuado para mejorar la competitividad agropecuaria bajo el contexto analizado. La apertura comercial no ha repercutido en un incremento en la competitividad, pero puede ser mejorada dando prioridad a la soberanía alimentaria, fortaleciendo su mercado interno e invirtiendo en bienes públicos.