CXCR4/CXCL12 expression and signalling in kidney cancer

CXCL12 (SDF-1), a CXC-chemokine, and its specific receptor, CXCR4, have recently been shown to be involved in tumourgenesis, proliferation and angiogenesis. Therefore, we analysed CXCL12alpha/CXCR4 expression and function in four human kidney cancer cell lines (A-498, CAKI-1, CAKI-2, HA-7), 10 freshly harvested human tumour samples and corresponding normal kidney tissue. While none of the analysed tumour cell lines expressed CXCL12alpha, A-498 cells were found to express CXCR4. More importantly, real-time RT-PCR analysis of 10 tumour samples and respective adjacent normal kidney tissue disclosed a distinct and divergent downregulation of CXCL12alpha and upregulation of CXCR4 in primary tumour tissue. To prove that the CXCR4 protein is functionally active, rhCXCL12alpha was investigated for its ability to induce changes of intracellular calcium levels in A-498 cells. Moreover, we used cDNA expression arrays to evaluate the biological influence of CXCL12alpha. Comparing gene expression profiles in rhCXCL12alpha stimulated vs unstimulated A-498 kidney cancer cells revealed specific regulation of 31 out of 1176 genes tested on a selected human cancer array, with a prominent stimulation of genes involved in cell-cycle regulation and apoptosis. The genetic changes reported here should provide new insights into the developmental paths leading to tumour progression and may also aid the design of new approaches to therapeutic intervention.     

CXCL12/CXCR4 and breast cancer

CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 can express in breast cancer, and are regulated by several factors in the genesis and development of breast cancer. Lots of researches have proved that CXCL12 and CXCR4 can be used as new independent prognostic makers of breast cancer. Treatment targeted for CXCR4 can be seen as a new kind of combination therapy, which may provides patients a more ideal treatment.     

趋化因子CXCL12及其受体CXCR4与乳腺癌

 趋化因子CXCL12及其受体CXCR4在乳腺癌发生发展的多个过程中受到多种因素调控并表达,并且多项研究证实CXCL12及CXCR4不但有助于判断乳腺癌患者的预后,而且针对CXCR4的治疗更为乳腺癌患者提供了新的联合治疗方案,给患者更为理想的治疗。     

CXCL12及受体CXCR4在卵巢上皮性癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨趋化因子CXCL12及其受体CXCR4在卵巢上皮性癌组织中的表达及与临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法:采用免疫组织化学SP法检测6例正常卵巢表面上皮、44例卵巢上皮性癌原发灶和30例相应大网膜转移灶组织中的CXCL12和CXCR4蛋白表达。结果:正常卵巢表面上皮无CXCL12和CXCR4蛋白表达;卵巢上皮性癌原发灶的CXCL12和CXCR4表达阳性率分别为91%和59%。CXCL12表达强度与术中腹水量有显著相关性(P=0.014)。难治复发组的CXCR4阳性率(81%)显著高于无复发组(28%,P<0.001)。单因素分析显示:CXCR4阳性表达的患者中位数肿瘤无进展生存时间和总生存时间(15个月、27个月)明显短于CXCR4阴性表达者(>21个月、>32个月,分别为P<0.001和P=0.017)。多因素分析显示:CXCR4表达和残余灶大小是影响卵巢上皮性癌患者的肿瘤无进展生存时间和总生存时间的独立预后因素。结论:CXCR4在卵巢上皮性癌中的表达阳性率较高,是影响其预后的独立指标之一。     

Functions of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in breast cancer

The chemokine CXCL12 (SDF-1) and its cognate receptor CXCR4 were first identified in the context of trafficking and homeostasis of immune cells, such as T lymphocytes. Subsequently, it has been determined that CXCR4 regulates several key processes in a wide variety of cancers. Functions of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in cancer first were described in metastatic breast cancer, and more recent studies also have identified roles for this signaling pathway in primary breast tumors. This review focuses on functions of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in primary and metastatic breast cancer, including molecular mechanisms of action and relationships of this pathway to other key regulators of breast cancer progression. We also describe pre-clinical studies indicating the potential to exploit CXCR4 as a new molecular target for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in patients.     

CXCL12 / CXCR4 / CXCR7 chemokine axis and cancer progression

Chemokines, small pro-inflammatory chemoattractant cytokines that bind to specific G-protein-coupled seven-span transmembrane receptors, are major regulators of cell trafficking and adhesion. The chemokine CXCL12 (also called stromal-derived factor-1) is an important α-chemokine that binds primarily to its cognate receptor CXCR4 and thus regulates the trafficking of normal and malignant cells. For many years, it was believed that CXCR4 was the only receptor for CXCL12. Yet, recent work has demonstrated that CXCL12 also binds to another seven-transmembrane span receptor called CXCR7. Our group and others have established critical roles for CXCR4 and CXCR7 on mediating tumor metastasis in several types of cancers, in addition to their contributions as biomarkers of tumor behavior as well as potential therapeutic targets. Here, we review the current concepts regarding the role of CXCL12 / CXCR4 / CXCR7 axis activation, which regulates the pattern of tumor growth and metastatic spread to organs expressing high levels of CXCL12 to develop secondary tumors. We also summarize recent therapeutic approaches to target these receptors and/or their ligands.     

CXCL12，CXCR4及CXCR7表达检测对乳腺癌患者疾病预后意义探讨

目的：探讨乳腺癌患者肿瘤组织中CXCL12,CXCR4和CXCR7 mRNA表达情况在肿瘤转移和疾病预后中的价值。方法采用定量PCR方法检测115例乳腺癌,临近正常组织及乳腺癌肿瘤转移患者颈部淋巴结样本中CXCL12,CXCR4和CXCR7 mRNA表达情况。随访资料采用Kaplan-Meier生存分析,对影响生存质量的因素进行多重变量Cox回归分析。结果与正常组织相比,乳腺癌组织中CXCR4和CXCR7表达明显增加,差异均有统计学意义（P﹤0.001）,两种组织中CXCL12的表达差异无统计学意义（P﹥0.05）;CXCL12在肿瘤原发部位和淋巴结转移部位的表达差异有统计学意义（P﹤0.05）,转移瘤的CXCR4和CXCR7表达均增加（P﹤0.05）。Kaplan-Meier生存分析结果表明,与CXCR4和CXCR7低表达患者相比,高表达患者的总生存率较低（P﹤0.05）。Cox回归模型显示,CXCL12、CXCR4和CXCR7表达均为影响乳腺癌患者生存情况的独立因素。结论本研究结果表明CXCL12、CXCR4和CXCR7 mRNA表达在乳腺癌患者肿瘤发展和转移中发挥重要作用,可以作为乳腺癌患者疾病预后的生物标志物。     

Chemokine axes CXCL12/CXCR4 and CXCL16/CXCR6 correlate with lymph node metastasis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Recent evidence suggests that the chemokine axis of CXC chemokine ligand-12 and its receptor CXC chemokine receptor-4(CXCL12/CXCR4) is highly expressed in gynecological tumors and the axis of CXC chemokine ligand-16 and CXC chemokine receptor-6(CXCL16/CXCR6) is overexpressed in inflammation-associated tumors.This study aimed to determine the relationship between CXCL12/CXCR4,CXCL16/CXCR6 and ovarian carcinoma's clinicopathologic features and prognosis.Accordingly,the expression of these proteins in ovarian ...     

Expression of the CXCL12/CXCR4 and CXCL16/CXCR6 axes in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer

The chemokine CXCL12 is highly expressed in gynecologic tumors and is widely known to play a biologically relevant role in tumor growth and spread. Recent evidence suggests that CXCL16, a novel chemokine, is overexpressed in inflammation-associated tumors and mediates pro-tumorigenic effects of inflammation in prostate cancer. We therefore analyzed the expression of CXCL12 and CXCL16 and their respective receptors CXCR4 and CXCR6 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer and further assessed their association with clinicopathologic features and outcomes. Tissue chip technology and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of CXCL12, CXCR4, CXCL16, and CXCR6 in healthy cervical tissue (21 cases), CIN (65 cases), and cervical carcinoma (60 cases). The association of protein expression with clinicopathologic features and overall survival was analyzed. These four proteins were clearly detected in membrane and cytoplasm of neoplastic epithelial cells, and their distribution and intensity of expression increased as neoplastic lesions progressed through CIN1, CIN2, and CIN3 to invasive cancer. Furthermore, the expression of CXCR4 was associated significantly with the histologic grade of cervical carcinoma, whereas the expression of CXCR6 was associated significantly with lymph node metastasis. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with high CXCR6 expression had significantly shorter overall survival than did those with low CXCR6 expression. The elevated co-expression levels of CXCL12/CXCR4 and CXCL16/CXCR6 in CIN and cervical carcinoma suggest a durative process in cervical carcinoma development. Moreover, CXCR6 may be useful as a biomarker and a valuable prognostic factor for cervical cancer.     

The expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in gastric cancer and their correlation to lymph node metastasis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 in gastric cancer and to determine their relationship with lymph node metastasis. Fifty patients with pathologically confirmed gastric cancer were analyzed from September 2004 to December 2004. The expression levels of CXCL12 and CXCR4 were examined by immunohistochemical staining in the primary gastric tumor tissues, adjacent normal mucosa tissues, and metastatic lymph nodes and were analyzed along with clinicopathological risk factors, to determine their correlation with the prognosis. Positive staining for CXCL12 and CXCR4 was identified in 90.0 and 80.0% of the primary gastric tumor tissues, respectively, with significantly higher expression intensities observed in the primary gastric tumor tissues than in the adjacent normal mucosa tissues (P?<?0.01 and P?=?0.01, respectively). Positive staining for CXCL12 and CXCR4 was identified in 94.4 and 91.7% of metastatic lymph nodes, respectively, with significantly higher expression intensities in the metastatic lymph nodes than in the adjacent normal mucosa tissues (P?<?0.01 and P?=?0.01, respectively). Expression of CXCL12 in the primary gastric tumor tissues was not significantly associated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumor or the disease prognosis. However, the intensity of CXCR4 staining in primary tumor tissues was positively related with lymph node metastasis, TNM staging, and disease prognosis (P?=?0.04, 0.03, 0.03, respectively). CXCL12 and CXCR4 are related to formation of gastric tumors and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, the expression of CXCR4 could be used as a biomarker to predict malignant features of gastric cancer.     

胰腺癌中CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴表达及临床意义的探讨

目的:探讨胰腺癌中CX-CL12、CXCR4表达与临床病理因素的关系。方法:采用免疫组织化学SP法和PCR技术检测胰腺癌、癌旁组织、正常胰腺和胰周淋巴结中CXCL12、CXCR4的表达。结果:CXCL12在正常胰腺、癌旁组织和淋巴结中等表达(阳性率56.7%、46.7%和50.0%),其表达与分化程度、TNM分期和淋巴结转移无关,P>0.05。CXCR4高表达于胰腺癌、癌旁组织和胰周淋巴结(阳性率80.0%、70.0%和73.3%);其表达与分化程度无关,与TNM分期显著相关,P<0.01。淋巴结转移者CXCR4均表达阳性。RT-PCR和实时荧光定量PCR均证实上述结果。结论:CXCR4表达与胰腺癌淋巴结转移及TNM分期密切相关,CXCL12-CXCR4轴在其进展中可能起重要作用。     

Chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 expression are associated with perineural invasion of prostate cancer

Objective

To identify the roles of CXCL12 and CXCR4 and the associated mechanism involved in perineural invasion of prostate cancer.

Methods

The distribution and expression of CXCL12, CXCR4, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human prostate cancer and in tumor cells invading nerve tissue were studied with immunohistochemical staining. The effects of exogenous CXCL12 and CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 on PC3 prostate cancer cells invasiveness were assessed in vitro and in vivo.

Results

The expression of CXCL12, CXCR4, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in human prostate cancer were higher than those in hyperplastic prostate tissues (P < 0.05). In vitro CXCL12 could stimulate the PC3 cells invasiveness (P < 0.05) while AMD3100 could inhibit invasiveness. In vivo, the number of nerves around the tumor tissue in the group treated with CXCL12 was significantly higher than that found in the control group (P < 0.05). Both the control group and the CXCL12-treated group had more nerves number near the tumor tissue than it found in the AMD3100-treated group. The positive cell number of CXCL12, CXCR4, MMP-2, MMP-9, and NGF expression ranked from highest to lowest, were the CXCL12-treated, the control, and the AMD3100-treated group(P < 0.05).

Conclusion

CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 along with MMP-2 and MMP-9 are related with prostate cancer perineural invasion.     

胰腺癌CXCL12/CXCR4通路研究进展

目的:总结CXCL12/CXCR4生物学轴与胰腺癌侵袭和转移关系的研究现状.方法:应用PubMed及CNKI期刊全文数据库检索系统,以“CXCL12、CXCR4和胰腺癌”等为关键词,检索2005-2011年的相关文献,共检索到中文文献56条,英文文献152条.纳入标准:1)CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴的生物学特性及功能;2)CXCL12/CXCR4生物学轴与肿瘤发生、发展的关系;3)CXCL12/CXCR4生物学轴信号转导通路的相关调控因子及其调节机制;4)CXCL12/CXCR4生物学轴在胰腺癌侵袭、转移中的作用及其机制;5)CXCL12/CXCR4生物学轴与胰腺癌的治疗及预后.根据纳入标准共采用中文文献3条,英文文献17条.结果:趋化因子受体CXCR4与其配体CXCL12结合组成的生物学轴具有高度特异性,在胰腺癌细胞的黏附、侵袭、转移、增殖和生存中发挥重要作用,与细胞外基质降解、胰腺癌血管、淋巴管生成及嗜神经侵袭密切相关,并受相关因子调控影响其信号转导通路.结论:CXCL12/CXCR4生物学轴在胰腺癌发生、发展中发挥着重要作用,有望成为胰腺癌靶向治疗的新靶点,但其具体作用的相关转导通路和调节机制还未完全明确,有待进一步研究.     

Changes in CXCL12/CXCR4-chemokine expression during onset of colorectal malignancies

Chemokines have been proposed to contribute to tumour growth and metastatic spread of several cancer entities. Here, we examined the relative levels of CXCL12/CXCR4 in resection specimens from patients with different malignant and non-malignant colorectal diseases as well as colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). CXCL12/CXCR4 mRNA and protein expression profiles were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry in resection specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 15), colorectal adenoma (CRA; n = 15), colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC; n = 47) and CRLM (n = 16). Corresponding non-affected tissues served as control. In contrast to UC tissues, CXCL12 showed a distinct down-regulation in CRA, CRC and CRLM specimens, whereas the corresponding receptor CXCR4 demonstrated a significant up-regulation in CRC and CRLM related to corresponding non-affected tissues (p < 0.05, respectively). Our results strongly suggest an association between CXCL12/CXCR4 expression and the induction of CRA, CRC and the development of CRLM. Therefore, CXCR4 may be a potential target for specific therapeutic interventions.