CX3CL1 and neoplasm: However, considering the mentioned positive association between CX3CL1 and tumor prognosis [30,44], as well as its inverse correlation with lymph node metastasis [23] and the fact that the absence or decreased expression of the CX3CR receptor itself was found to be associated with the development of lymph node metastasis and poor CRC prognosis [4], it can be concluded that this chemokine/chemokine receptor interaction relevantly influences the fate of CRC disease by means other than triggering the antitumor activity of recruited immune cells [23].