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 BM were found in 46% of all patients and in 56% of patients with DTCs. CXCR4 expression in BM was 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.