[Expression of CXCR3 in hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Recent researches have revealed that chemokine-chemokine receptor network plays an important role in tumor metastasis. This study was to investigate the expression of CXCR3, a chemokine receptor, and its correlation to clinicopathologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
CXCR3 mRNA expression in 7 human HCC cell lines, 18 normal liver tissues and 64 pairs of HCC tissues and adjacent liver tissues was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR; CXCR3 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of CXCR3 expression to the metastasis of HCC was analyzed.


RESULTS
CXCR3 mRNA was expressed in 2 HCC cell lines (MHCC97-H and MHCC97-L) with metastatic potential, but not in 5 HCC cell lines without metastatic potential. The CXCR3/beta2M expression ratio in MHCC97-H cells (high metastatic potential) was 33.0x10(-4), and that in MHCC97-L cells (low metastatic potential) was 8.7x10(-4). Strong staining of CXCR3 protein in MHCC97-H and MHCC97-L cells was observed. However, the staining of CXCR3 protein was not detected in 4 HCC cell lines without metastatic potential; only weak staining was detected in HepG-2 cells. The expression of CXCR3 protein in HCC is significantly correlated to the invasiveness of tumors (P=0.003). The 1-and 2-year tumor-free survival rates of the HCC patients with strong positive CXCR3 expression were significantly lower than those of the patients with weak positive CXCR3 expression (66.7% vs. 75.0%, 31.3% vs. 59.5%, P=0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of CXCR3 might play a role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC.
Shi
Ming
M
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
Guo
Rong-Ping
RP
Zhang
Chang-Qing
CQ
Zhong
Chong
C
Lin
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Li
Jin-Qing
JQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin