Expression of chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in colorectal cancer and their clinical significance

Abstract

Objective To evaluate and compare the expression of chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in colorectal cancer tissue,normal colon mucosa,colorectal liver metastases and adjacent nontumorous liver tissues to elucidate their impact on the carcinogenesis and progression of colorectal liver metastasis.Methods Chemokine expression was analyzed by Q-RT-PCR in 123 cases of colorectal cancer tissue and 19 cases of colorectal liver metastases and corresponding adjacent nontumorous liver tissues,respectively.Expressions of its receptors CCR6 was analyzed by Q-RT-PCR and in the same cases of colorectal cancer and corresponding adjacent nontumorous liver tissues.Results The expression levels of CCR6 mRNA in colorectal cancer tissue (2.100 ± 0.216) (t =-3.778,P ＜ 0.05) and in the tissue of colorectal liver metastases (1.530 ±0.172) (t =-1.598,P ＜ 0.05) were higher than that in normal colon mucosa (0.636 ±0.190).The expression level of CCR6 mRNA in colerectal liver metastases was compared between adjacent nontumorous liver tissues (t =-0.200) and normal colon mucosa.A statistically relevant (P ＜ 0.05) upregulation of the expression for the expression of CCL20 mRNA was higher in the tissue of colorectal liver metastases (1.780 ±0.126) (t =-2.087) and adjacent nontumorous liver tissues (3.461 ± 0.134) (t =-5.607) than normal colon mucosa (0.759 ± 0.072).A statistically relevant (P ＜ 0.05) upregulation of the expression of CCL20 mRNA was higher in the tissue of colorectal liver metastases than adjacent nontumorous liver metastases tissues (t =-8.357).A statistically relevant (P ＞ 0.05) of the expression of CCR6/CCL20 mRNA was no significant correlation the sex of the patient (CCR6,U =0.360; CCL20 U =0.530),age (CCR6,U =0.089; CCL20 U =0.436) and TNM stages(CCR6,U =0.063; CCL20 U =0.129).while CCR6 and CCL20 mRNA expression in colorectal carcinoma and distant metastasis CCR6,U =0.002; CCL20 U =0.032) and lymph node metastasis (CCR6,U =0.013; CCL20 U =0.007) have some correlation (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The findings strongly suggest an association between CCL20/CCR6 expression in human colorectal cancer and the promotion of colorectal liver metastasis. Key words: Colorectal neoplasms; Chemokine CCL20; Receptors, chemokine; Neoplasms metastasis