Expression and clinical significance of SDF-1/CXCR4 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinicopathological significance of SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and clarify the roles of SDF-1/CXCR4 in the pathogenesis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS The expressions of SDF-1 and CXCR4 mRNA as well as the protein were detected by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively in 40 cases of laryngeal carcinoma and 25 cases of para-carcinoma tissues. RESULTS 1. The SDF-1and CXCR4 mRNA expression was higher in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma(0.079±0.018, 0.161±0.041) than the para-carcinoma tissues(0.021±0.005、0.035±0.007,P 0.05). There was significant difference in SDF-1 mRNA expression in relation to lymph nodes metastasis. The expression of CXCR4 mRNA was related to pathological grade, clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis. 2. The result of immunohistochemistry showed, the positive rate of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in tumor tissues was 52.5% and 57.5%,higher than the 20.0% and 28.0% of controls. There was significant difference in SDF-1 mRNA expression in relation to clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis.The expression of CXCR4 protein was related to pathological grade, clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis. CONCLUSION SDF-1/CXCR4 biological axis may play an important role in promoting laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma growth and metastasis.