The expression of chemokine MCP-1 in colorectal carcinoma and its relationship to the infiltration of macrophage

Abstract

Objective: To study the expression of MCP-1 in colorectal carcinoma and its relationship to the infiltration of the macrophage and to the biological behaviour of infiltration and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. Methods: The expression of the MCP-1 mRNA was assessed in colorectal carcinoma collected freshly from surgical specimen by RT-PCR and the expression of the MCP-1 protein was assessed in colorectal carcinoma collected from surgical specimen by immunohistochemistry. The tumor infiltrating cell and macrophage were also investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results: All the 12 specimens of colorectal carcinoma detected by RT-PCR expressed the MCP-1 mRNA; MCP-1 protein was detected in 90%. (36/40) cases of the tumor; The expression of the MCP-1 protein in colorectal carcinoma correlated negatively with its state of metastasis and the Dukes’ stage. But a postive correlation was found between the expression of MCP-1 and the infiltrated macrophage. The stronger expression of MCP-1, the more number of the infiltrated macrophage. Conclusion: The expression of chemokine MCP-1 in colorectal carcinoma may influence its biological behaviour of infiltration and metastasis, and can attract the immuno-cell to the local of the tumor, such as Macrophage.