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The role of vascular CXCR4 expression in colorectal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Ingold Barbara,
Schulz Stefan,
Budczies Jan,
Neumann Ulf,
Ebert Matthias P A,
Weichert Wilko,
Röcken Christoph
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2009.03426.x
Subject(s) - cxcr4 , colorectal cancer , angiogenesis , chemokine receptor , medicine , lymphovascular invasion , metastasis , immunohistochemistry , pathology , cancer research , oncology , chemokine , cancer , receptor
Aims: The chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays a prominent role in the biology of many different tumours, promoting angiogenesis and metastasis. The impact of CXCR4 expression on tumour biology has been described in various gastrointestinal malignancies, but data on its in situ expression and clinicopathological correlations are sparse. Using a novel specific rabbit anti‐CXCR4 antibody, the aim was to assess CXCR4 expression immunohistochemically on tissue microarrays generated from 402 colorectal cancers (CRCs) and compare it with CXCL12 expression and various clinicopathological parameters. Methods and results: CXCR4‐expressing tumour cells were observed in 31% of the cases, and expression correlated only with blood vessel invasion ( P = 0.049). Furthermore, CXCR4 was found in tumour microvessels in 25% of CRCs. This pattern of CXCR4 expression correlated significantly with T‐ ( P = 0.008), N‐ ( P = 0.009), M‐ ( P = 0.043), L‐ ( P = 0.014) and V‐category ( P = 0.043) as well as with International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage ( P = 0.001). Furthermore, in node negative CRCs, vascular CXCR4 expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor [hazard ratio 2.87 (1.31–6.29), P = 0.009]. No correlation with CXCL12 expression was found. Conclusions: Our data provide evidence that CXCR4 plays an important role in tumour angiogenesis of CRC. Therefore, the CXCR4 pathway is a promising therapeutic target for anti‐angiogenic therapies in CRC.