CXCR4 Expression in Gastric Cancer and Bone Marrow: Association with Hypoxia-Regulated Indices, Disseminated Tumor Cells, and Patients Survival.

Abstract

Aim:The analysis of the association of CXCR4 expression in gastric cancer (GC) and bone marrow (BM) with clinical characteristics. Patients and Methods: 65 patients with GC were investigated. Immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, NMR-spectroscopy, and zymography were used. Results: CXCR4 was expressed in 78.5% of GC specimens and correlated with tumor hypoxia (p < 0.05), VEGF expression (p < 0.01), and gelatinases activity (p < 0.05). CXCR4-positive cells in GC were detected in 80% of patients with disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). Overall survival (OS) of patients with CXCR4-positive tumors was poorer than that of patients with CXCR4-negative tumors (p = 0.037). The CXCR4-positive cells in BMwere found in 46% of all patients and in 56% of patients with DTCs. CXCR4 expression in BMwas not associated with OS. Risk of unfavourable outcome is increased in patients with CXCR4-positive tumors (p < 0.05). CXCR4 expression in BM was positively associated with DTCs, especially in patients with M0 category. Risk of unfavourable outcome is increased in patients with M0 category and with both CXCR4-positive BM and DTCs (p = 0.03). Conclusions: CXCR4 expression in tumor was positively correlated with hypoxia level and VEGF expression in tumor as well as OS. CXCR4 expression in BM is associated with DTCs.