In conclusion, expression of the CXCL12 scavenging receptor CXCR7 in the CXCR4-expressing human 143B osteosarcoma cell line enhances its metastatic activity in intratibial primary tumors in SCID mice that predominantly metastasize to the lung and thereby closely mimic the human disease.
Collectively, our findings indicate that upregulation of CXCR7 expression is correlated with distant metastasis of OS, while knockdown of CXCR7 blocks the development of OS cells through inhibition of the PI3K/AKT and β-arrestin pathways, suggesting that CXCR7 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer.