# The Significance of CXCL1 in Cancer: An Overview of Molecular Mechanisms

**Authors:** Jan Korbecki, Mateusz Bosiacki, Edyta Dzięciołowska-Baran, Patrycja Pawlik, Michał Lubkowski, Ireneusz Walaszek, Katarzyna Barczak

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ijms27062693 · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2026-03-16

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the role of CXCL1 in cancer processes, focusing on molecular mechanisms like proliferation, metastasis, and effects on tumor-associated cells.

## Contribution

This is the first comprehensive review on CXCL1's role in cancer-related molecular processes.

## Key findings

- CXCL1 is involved in cancer processes such as proliferation, migration, and metastasis.
- CXCL1 affects tumor-associated cells like neutrophils, macrophages, and fibroblasts.
- CXCL1 is linked to cancer-associated diseases like cachexia and immunodeficiency.

## Abstract

Chemokine CXCL1, also known as Gro-α and MGSA, a ligand of CXCR2, is the best-known CXC chemokine in cancer processes, after CXCL8/IL-8 and CXCL12/SDF-1. This paper is the first review on the role of CXCL1 in general molecular processes associated with cancer. It provides a comprehensive overview that allows for an in-depth understanding of the importance of CXCL1 in tumor-related processes. In this review, however, we did not address the clinical aspects of CXCL1, as these were discussed in our previous review articles. The present paper focuses on the involvement of CXCL1 in cancer processes such as proliferation, cancer stem cell (CSC) function, senescence, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, migration and metastasis, and effects on tumor-associated cells such as neutrophils, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). It also describes the significance of CXCL1 in cancer-associated diseases such as cancer cachexia, cancer-associated immunodeficiency, neuroinflammatory-mediated affective-like behaviors, bone cancer pain, and acute kidney injury. We also present the effects of obesity on CXCL1-related cancer processes.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** CXCL1 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1) [NCBI Gene 2919], CXCR2 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 3579], CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 3576], CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12) [NCBI Gene 6387]
- **Proteins:** CXCL1 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1), CXCL1 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1)
- **Diseases:** acute kidney injury (MONDO:0002492)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 3576] {aka GCP-1, GCP1, IL8, LECT, LUCT, LYNAP}, CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12) [NCBI Gene 6387] {aka IRH, PBSF, SCYB12, SDF1, TLSF, TPAR1}, CXCL1 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1) [NCBI Gene 2919] {aka FSP, GRO1, GROa, MGSA, MGSA-a, NAP-3}, CXCR2 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 3579] {aka CD182, CDw128b, CMKAR2, IL8R2, IL8RA, IL8RB}
- **Diseases:** Cancer (MESH:D009369), acute kidney injury (MESH:D058186), obesity (MESH:D009765), bone cancer pain (MESH:D001859), metastasis (MESH:D009362), cachexia (MESH:D002100), immunodeficiency (MESH:D007153), neuroinflammatory (MESH:D000090862)

## Full text

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## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13026198/full.md

## References

321 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13026198/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13026198