Expression of CXCR7 and its relationship to lymph node metastasis in breast carcinoma

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relation between expression of chemokine receptor 7(CXCR7) and lymph node metastasis.METHODS:Specimens extracted from normal tissue and breast carcinoma were stained immunohistochemically by a CXCR7 specific marker to compare the CXCR7 expression level from normal breast tissue with that from breast carcinomas.RESULTS:The CXCR7 expression rate was significantly higher in the lymph node metastasis positive group(83.33%,40/48) as compared to that in the lymph node metastasis negative group(61.11%,33/54,P0.05).The CXCR7 expression level correlated well with the severity of lymph node metastasis(P=0.013) and tumor size(P=0.000).However,no correlative pattern can be established between the CXCR7 expression level and patients' age(P=0.876),magnitude of tumor differentiation(P=0.501),ER(P=0.057),or PR(P=0.885).CONCLUSIONS:The expression level of CXCR7 is associated with lymph node metastasis of breast carcinomas.The selectively inhibiting CXCR7 expression may be an effective approach to control lymph node metastasis of breast carcinomas.