Objective: To detect the expressions of CXCR4 and Nrf2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and analyze their association with the clinicopathological features of NSCLC.
Methods: We investigated the expressions of CXCR4 and Nrf2 in 66 NSCLC and corresponding distant normal tissue specimens using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR.
Results: The expressions of CXCR4 protein and mRNA were significantly higher in NSCLC tissue specimens than in the distant normal tissues, while the expression of Nrf2 protein and mRNA increased significantly in NSCLC tissues compared to those in the distant normal tissues (P<0.01). A high expression level of CXCR4 was positively correlated with a large tumor size (P=0.048), poor differentiation (P=0.024), advanced TNM stage (P=0.018), lymph node metastasis (P=0.004), and distant metastasis (P=0.016). The expression of Nrf2 protein was positively correlated with a large tumor size (P=0.008), advanced TNM stage (P=0.028), lymph node metastasis (P=0.038), and distant metastasis (P=0.023). A strong correlation was found between CXCR4 and Nrf2 expressions in NSCLC tissues (r=0.324, P<0.01), and the co-expression of CXCR4 and Nrf2 was strongly correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis.
Conclusion: Abnormal expressions of CXCR4 and Nrf2 may contribute to the progression and malignant biological behavior of NSCLC.