title: Low expression of chemokine receptor CCR5 in human  colorectal cancer correlates with lymphatic dissemination  and reduced CD8+ T-cell infiltration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemokines and their receptors have been proposed to distinctly contribute to tumor growth, dissemination, and local immune escape. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relevance of the chemokine receptor CCR5 expression for the progression of human colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  CCR5 expression was assessed by RT-PCR analysis in 103 colorectal cancer patients. Intensity of CCR5 expression was correlated with both tumor and patient characteristics. Infiltration of tumor margins with CD8(+) T cells in the context of CCR5 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in additional 18 colorectal cancer specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human colorectal cancer revealed variable intensities of CCR5 expression ranging from absent (48/103: 47%), weak (30/103: 29%), intermediate (13/103: 13%), to strong (12/103: 12%). Absent or weak CCR5 expression was significantly associated with advanced UICC stages (P=0.02) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.05). In addition, CCR5 expression positively correlated with CD8(+) T-cell infiltration in tumor margins (P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, intermediate and strong CCR5 expression was significantly associated with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer and increased CD8(+) T-cell infiltration.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moehler
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gockel
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Sgourakis
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biesterfeld
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Hauke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Galle
authors.forename: Carl C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Schimanski
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019713:Receptors, CCR5