Research Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2014; 20(15): 4421-4427
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4421
Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/CCL2 in gastric cancer and its relationship with tumor hypoxia
Lei-Lei Tao, Shu-Jing Shi, Long-Bang Chen, Gui-Chun Huang
Lei-Lei Tao, Shu-Jing Shi, Long-Bang Chen, Gui-Chun Huang, Medical Oncology Department of Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Tao LL participated in the design of the study, performed the research and wrote the paper; Shi SJ participated in the design of the study and helped to draft the manuscript; Chen LB designed the study and helped to draft the manuscript; Huang GC participated in the design of the study, performed immunohistochemistry and helped to write the paper; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81101739; China International Medical Foundation, No. CIMF-F-H001-023
Correspondence to: Gui-Chun Huang, MD, PhD, Medical Oncology Department of Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 ZhongShan Eastern Road, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. huangguichun@nju.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-25-80863090 Fax: +86-25-80860072
Received: September 9, 2013
Revised: January 4, 2014
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Processing time: 219 Days and 14 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression and prognostic value of CCL2 in gastric cancer, as well as its relationship with tumor hypoxia.

METHODS: Tumor tissues from 68 gastric cancer patients (GC) were analyzed, and the expression of CCL2 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Statistical evaluations that were used included univariate log-rank tests of Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression model analysis.

RESULTS: CCL2 was highly expressed in 66.2% (45/68) of gastric cancer specimens. The distribution of CCL2 expression in tumor tissue was consistent with that of HIF-1α. Patients with high CCL2 expression in GC had a lower overall survival rate [50.6 mo (95%CI: 44.44-56.93) vs 64.6 mo (95%CI: 60.27-68.94), P = 0.013].

CONCLUSION: CCL2 expression correlates closely with HIF-1α expression in gastric cancer. CCL2 may be an independent prognostic marker for GC.

Keywords: Chemokines; Monocyte chemotactic protein-1/CCL2; Gastric cancer; Prognostic marker; Immunohistochemistry

Core tip: The authors have performed immunohistochemical analysis of CCL2 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) in consecutive formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of 68 gastric tumor samples taken from gastric cancer patients. The expression of the monocyte chemotactic protein-1/CCL2 is associated with the expression of HIF-1α. The research results showed a correlation between the expression of both proteins in gastric carcinoma. The authors have statistically analyzed the relationship of CCL2 expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients and their survival time. The expression of CCL2 could be used as a prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.