Immunohistochemical expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and CXCR4 ligand receptor system in hepatocellular carcinoma

Angiogenesis is an essential process for progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The alpha-chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 have been recognized for their roles in regulating neoangiogenesis. The role of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in HCC progression has been little analyzed. The study aims to evaluate immunohistochemical expression of the SDF-land CXCR4 in HCC tissue and non-HCC tissue. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 28 HCC, 7 hepatocellular adenoma (HA), 26 cirrotic nodules (CN) and 16 normal liver tissues (NLT) were immunostained for SDF-1 and CXCR4. SDF-1 and CXCR4 are detected in sinusoidal endothelial cells in HCC tissue, and their expressions are significantly higher than in non-HCC tissues. There was no significant correlation between SDF-1 expression and CXCR4 protein and the grade and stage of HCC. Overexpressions of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in sinusoidal endothelial cells in HCC suggest that the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway plays a possible role in HCC progression through neoangiogenesis. Our data suggest that molecular strategies aimed at inhibiting the CXCR4/SDF-1 pathway might be of therapeutic use for the treatment of HCC.