Objective: To investigate the expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in laryngeal squamous carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathology character and the building of microvessel density (MVD). To evaluate its role in the carcinogenesis and progression in laryngeal squamous carcinoma.
Method: The expression of CXCR4 in fresh laryngeal squamous carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 42 patients were examined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining and Image-pro-plus software. The numbers of regeneration blood vessels in the laryngeal squamous carcinoma was counted by antibody against factor V associated antigen and immunohistochemical analysis.
Result: The positive expression rate of CXCR4 in tumor samples was significantly higher than that in normal ones (P < 0.01). In tumor samples, the expression of CXCR4 were not associated with age, sex, tumor site and T stage (P > 0.05), while it were higher in tumors of grade III, IV than in grade I, II of pathology classification (P < 0. 01). The expression of CXCR4 were significantly higher in tumors with cervical lymph node metastasis than that in tumor without cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). The expression of CXCR4 protein and CXCR4 mRNA were at the same level. The expression level of CXCR4 in the laryngeal squamous carcinoma tissue was positively correlated with vascularization.
Conclusion: The higher expression of CXCR4 may play a key role in the invasion and metastasis of laryngeal squamous carcinoma, and were correlated with micro-vascularization.