Prognostic significance of CXCR-4 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the prognostic significance of CXC chemokine receptor CXCR-4 expression in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its relationship with matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and Ki-67 expression.


METHODS
The CXCR-4, MMP-2, MMP-9, and Ki-67 expression was assessed immunohistochemically in 74 OSCC patients. The results were analyzed in connection with clinicopathologic factors.


RESULTS
The CXCR-4 expression was positive in 45 cases and significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = .037), MMP-9 expression (P = .025), and Ki-67 expression (P = .001). Univariate analysis showed that CXCR-4 expression, MMP-9 expression, Ki-67 expression, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and recurrence positively correlated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis indicated that CXCR-4 expression was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival in patients with OSCC.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of CXCR-4 is a significant prognostic indicator for poor survival in patients with OSCC and correlates with expression of MMP-9 and Ki-67. The inhibition of CXCR-4 represents a possible molecular approach to the treatment of OSCC.
Lee
Jae-Il
JI
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Jin
Bo-Hyong
BH
Kim
Mi-Ae
MA
Yoon
Hye-Jung
HJ
Hong
Sam-Pyo
SP
Hong
Seong-Doo
SD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9