CXCR4 expression in colorectal cancer and its clinical significance

Objective To explore the expression of CXCR4 in human colorectal cancer tissue and its clinical significance. Methods Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to detect the expression of CXCR4 in 63 primary lesions of colorectal cancer, 25 normal colorectal tissues adjacent to cancer lesion, 17 liver metastases foci, as well as 15 metastatic lymph node specimens. Results Stronger expression of CXCR4 protein was observed in colorectal cancer specimens, compared with that in normal tissues. CXCR4 expression was closely related to the status of liver or lymph node metastasis, but had no relationship with age, gender, pathological type and histological differentiation. Conclusions Up-regulated CXCR4 expression is associated with the carcinogenesis and metastasis of colorectal cancer.