Background: CXCL12 or stromal-derived factor-1 is a chemokine that binds to two receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 and takes part in both physiological and pathological cell functions. The disruption of the CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7 chemokine axis is seen in various types of cancers.
Methods: We have immunohistochemically analyzed the expression of CXCL12 and its receptors in clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients. The study included 85 tissue samples. Since samples exhibited heterogeneity of expression intensity and staining localization (cytoplasmatic and membranous), histoscores were calculated, and their associations with clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.
Results: Both cytoplasmatic CXCR7 and CXCL12 histoscores were associated with greater tumour size, while CXCL12 staining was associated with a higher grade as well. Mortality was associated with tumour size and both membranous and cytoplasmatic CXCL12 histoscores. With each centimetre in tumour size, survival decreases 1.3 times, while CXCL12C histoscore higher than 73 was associated with 2.3 greater risk of mortality. CXCR4 histoscore could only be predicted by female gender and neither cytoplasmatic nor membranous CXCR4 expression was found to be a mortality predictor.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that regarding overall survival, CXCL12 could be considered a valuable prognostic marker.
Keywords: CXCL12; CXCR4; CXCR7; Clear cell renal cell carcinoma; Prognosis.
© 2021. Japanese Society of Nephrology.