CXCR4/SDF-1 axis is involved in lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the role of CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma.METHODS:In 40 cases of gastric cancer,expression of CXCR4 mRNA in cancer and normal mucous membrane and SDF-1 mRNA in lymph nodes around the stomach was detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (TaqMan) and immunohistochemistric assay.SGC-7901 and MGC80-3 cancer cells were used to investigate the effect of SDF-1 on cell proliferation and migration.RESULTS:Quantitative reverse transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression level of CXCR4 in gastric cancer was significantly higher than that in normal mucous membrane (1.6244 ± 1.3801 vs 1.0715 ± 0.5243,P < 0.05).The expression level of CXCR4 mRNA in gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis was also significantly higher than that without lymph node metastasis (0.823 ± 0.551 vs 0.392 ± 0.338,P < 0.05).CXCR4 expression was significantly related to poorly differentiated,high tumor stage and lymph node metastasis.Significant differences in the expression level of SDF-1 mRNA were found between lymph nodes in metastatic gastric cancer and normal nodes (0.5432 ± 0.4907 vs 0.2640 ± 0.2601,P < 0.05).The positive expression of SDF-1 mRNA in lymph nodes of metastatic gastric cancer was consistent with the positive expression of CXCR4 mRNA in gastric cancer (r=0.776,P < 0.01).Additionally,human gastric cancer cell lines expressed CXCR4 and showed vigorous proliferation and migratory responses to SDF-1.AMD3100 (a specific CXCR4 antagonist) was also found to effectively reduce the migration of gastric cancer cells.CONCLUSION:The CXCR4/SDF-1 axis is involved in the lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer.CXCR4 is considered as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Persistent CXCR4 expression after preoperative chemoradiotherapy predicts early recurrence and poor prognosis in esophageal cancer

AIM: To study the effect of CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) expression on disease progression and prognosis in esophageal cancer. METHODS: CXCR4 expression was evaluated in 37 patients with histologically confirmed esophageal squamous carcinomas (ESCC) undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Eleven out of 37 ESCC patients showed a pathological complete response (CR) after CRT. CXCR4 protein expression was observed in cell cytoplasms of 13 tumors, and null expression was seen in 13 tumors. Distant recurrence was significantly more common in patients with positive CXCR4 expression (P = 0.0318). After a median follow-up time of 31.6 mo, 19 patients progressed (12 of 19 expressed positive CXCR4) and 11 died (10 of 11 expressed positive CXCR4). Overall survival was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (952.1 ± 53.8 d in negative group vs 475.1 ± 56.2 d in positive group, P = 0.023), distant metastasis (874.0 ± 60.4 d in negative group vs 434.9 ± 75.2 d in positive group, P = 0.014) and CRT (811.5 ± 51.2 d in responder group vs 459.6 ± 94.0 d in non-responder group, P = 0.00038) and further with an absence ofCXCR4 expression or no residual tumor (959.8 ± 51.0 d in null expression or no tumor group vs 412.0 ± 57.1 d in positive expression group, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Persistent positive CXCR4 expression is implicated in tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in ESCC after CRT, and preoperative CRT may improve the prognosis of ESCC via CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling pathway.

Chemokine receptor CXCR4-prognostic factor for gastrointestinal tumors

To review the implication of CXCR4 for gastrointestinal cancer, a ＂Pubmed＂ analysis was performed in order to evaluate the relevance of CXCR4 and its ligands for gastrointestinal cancers. Search terms applied were ＂cancer, malignoma, esophageal, gastric, colon, colorectal, hepatic, pancreatic, CXCR4, SDF- 1α, and SDF-1β＂. CXCR4 expression correlated with dissemination of diverse gastrointestinal malignomas. The CXCR4 ligand SDF-1α might act as ＂chemorepellent＂ while SDF-1β might act as ＂chemorepellent＂ for CTLs, inducing tumor rejection. The paracrine expression of SDF-1α was furthermore closely associated with neoangiogenesis. CXCR4 and its ligands influence the dissemination, immune rejection, and neoangiogenesis of human gastrointestinal cancers. Inhibition of CXCR4 might be an interesting therapeutic option.

趋化因子受体4联合P504S或P63在良、恶性前列腺疾病鉴别诊断中的应用

目的:评价趋化因子受体4(CXCR4)联合P504S或P63蛋白在前列腺良、恶性疾病诊断和鉴别诊断中的应用价值,为前列腺疾病的诊断、鉴别诊断提供理论依据。方法:采用EnVision两步免疫组织化学方法,检测40例未经任何抗癌治疗的前列腺癌(PCa)和30例良性前列腺增生(BPH)石蜡标本中P504S、CXCR4和P63蛋白的表达情况,结合临床分析CXCR4与PCa转移特征相关性。结果:在40例PCa中,CXCR4蛋白表达阳性率为82.5%(33/40),P504S阳性率为92.5%(37/40),P63蛋白表达阳性率为5%(2/40)。30例BPH组织中,P63表达均为阳性,P504S阳性率为3.3%(1/30),而CXCR4阳性率16.7%(5/30)。P504S联合P63对PCa的诊断正确率要高于CXCR4+P63和P504S+CXCR4。PCa中CXCR4表达与癌转移特征相关性具有统计学差异(P<0.05)。结论:P504S、CXCR4及P63对良、恶性前列腺病变的诊断及鉴别诊断都有一定的参考作用。虽然CXCR4单独应用于诊断特异性差,诊断准确率相对较低,但CXCR4联合P504S或P63诊断准确率高,对前列腺疾病的良、恶性鉴别诊断有重要临床应用价值。