Chemokines (chemo‐attractant cytokines) are a group of small proteins that act together with their cell surface receptors, in development, normal physiology and immune responses, to direct cells to specific locations throughout the body. Cancer cells acquire the ability to subvert the chemokine system, such that these molecules and their receptors become important regulators of cell movement into and out of the tumour microenvironment and major players in cancer biology. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.