Colorectal Cancer
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2006; 12(41): 6627-6633
Published online Nov 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i41.6627
Chemokine expression in hepatocellular carcinoma versus colorectal liver metastases
Claudia Rubie, Vilma Oliveira Frick, Mathias Wagner, Christina Weber, Bianca Kruse, Katja Kempf, Jochen König, Bettina Rau, Martin Schilling
Claudia Rubie, Vilma Oliveira Frick, Christina Weber, Bianca Kruse, Katja Kempf, Bettina Rau, Martin Schilling, Department of General-, Visceral-, Vascular- and Paediatric Surgery, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar 66421, Germany
Mathias Wagner, Institute of Pathology, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar 66421, Germany
Jochen König, Institute of Medical Biometrics, Epidemiology, and Medical Informatics, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar 66421, Germany
Correspondence to: Claudia Rubie, PhD, Labor für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäß chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Chirurgische Klinik, Gebäude 57, Homburg/Saar 66421, Germany. ca.labor@uniklinik-saarland.de
Telephone: +49-6841-1623976 Fax: +49-6841-1622497
Received: June 20, 2006
Revised: July 12, 2006
Accepted: August 11, 2006
Published online: November 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate and compare the expression profiles of CXCL12 (SDF-1), CCL19 (MIP-3β), CCL20 (MIP-3α) and CCL21 (6Ckine, Exodus2) and their receptors on RNA and protein levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) versus colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and to elucidate their impact on the carcinogenesis and progression of malignant liver diseases.

METHODS: Chemokine expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and ELISA in 11 cases of HCC specimens and in 23 cases of CRLM and corresponding adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues, respectively. Expressions of their receptors CXCR4, CCR6 and CCR7 were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in the same cases of HCC and CRLM.

RESULTS: Significant up-regulation for CCL20/CCR6 was detected in both cancer types. Moreover, CCL20 demonstrated significant overexpression in CRLM in relation to the HCC tissues. Being significantly up-regulated only in CRLM, CXCR4 displayed an aberrant expression pattern with respect to the HCC tissues.

CONCLUSION: Correlation of CXCR4 expression with CRLM suggests CXCR4 as a potential predictive factor for CRLM. High level expression of CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in HCC and CRLM with marked up-regulation of CCL20 in CRLM in relation to HCC tissues indicates involvement of the CCL20/CCR6 ligand-receptor pair in the carcinogenesis and progression of hepatic malignancies.

Keywords: Chemokines; Chemokine receptors; Gene expression; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Colorectal liver metastases