Expression of CXCR4 and MMP-2 in colorectal cancer and their relationship with microvessel density and tumor metastasis

Objective:To investigate the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 and of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-2 and analyse the relationship among the expression of CXCR4,MMP-2 and microvessel density,the clinic pathological diameters in colorectal cancer.Methods:The expression of CXCR4 and MMP-2 in 56 colorectal cancers and 10 normal colorectal specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.VIII immunostaining was used to measure the microvessel density.The correlation among the the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4,MMP-2 and MVD,the clinical pathological diameters was evaluated.Results:CXCR4-positive expression was 64.3%(36/56) in colorectal cancers,20%(2/10) in normal colorectal tissues,expression was 78.5%(44/56) in colorectal cancers,30%(3/10) in normal colorectal tissues.However,the expression of CXCR4 and MMP-2 were relevant to clinical stage,lymph node metastasis and MVD.Conclusion:The expression of CXCR4 and MMP-2 was distinctly higher in colorectal cancers.CXCR4 and MMP-2 may promote the angiogenesis and the metastasis in colorectal cancer.