Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2012; 18(11): 1249-1256
Published online Mar 21, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i11.1249
CCL7 and CCL21 overexpression in gastric cancer is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis
Tsann-Long Hwang, Li-Yu Lee, Chee-Chan Wang, Ying Liang, Shu-Fang Huang, Chi-Ming Wu
Tsann-Long Hwang, Shu-Fang Huang, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Tsann-Long Hwang, Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Li-Yu Lee, Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Chee-Chan Wang, Chi-Ming Wu, Department of Cosmetic Science, Vanung University, Chungli 320, Taiwan
Ying Liang, Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Author contributions: Hwang TL and Wu CM designed the research; Lee LY, Wang CC, Liang Y and Huang SF performed the research and analyzed the data; and Wu CM wrote the paper.
Supported by Grants NSC 98-2314-B-238-001 from the National Science Council; and VIT-98-CM-01 from Vanung University, Taiwan
Correspondence to: Chi-Ming Wu, Associate Professor, Department of Cosmetic Science, Vanung University, No.1 Van-Nung Rd, Chungli 320, Taiwan. chimingwu@mail.vnu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-3-4515811 Fax: +886-3-4345846
Received: April 6, 2011
Revised: June 23, 2011
Accepted: June 30, 2011
Published online: March 21, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate how a complex network of CC chemokine ligands (CCLs) and their receptors influence the progression of tumor and metastasis.

METHODS: In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of CCL7, CCL8 and CCL21 in 194 gastric cancer samples and adjacent normal tissues. We analyzed their correlation with tumor metastasis, clinicopathologic parameters and clinical outcome.

RESULTS: We found that the higher expression of CCL7 and CCL21 in cancer tissues than in normal tissues was significantly correlated with advanced depth of wall invasion, lymph node metastasis and higher tumor node metastasis stage. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that CCL7 and CCL21 overexpression in cancer tissues was correlated with poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that overexpression of these two CC chemokine ligands is associated with tumor metastasis and serves as a prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer.

Keywords: CC chemokine; Chemokine ligand 7; Chemokine ligand 21; Gastric cancer; Lymph node metastasis; Poor prognosis