Expression of chemokine receptor CCR6 as a molecular determinant of adrenal metastatic relapse in patients with primary lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggest that chemokines are involved in organ-specific metastatic relapse. We evaluated the potential implications of chemokine receptors in the development of adrenal metastasis after complete resections of primary non-small-cell lung cancer.


METHODS
We studied a unique cohort of 21 primary lung cancers with matched adrenal metastases for the expression of CX3CR1, CXCR4, CCR6, and CCR7, using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Although CXCR4, CX3CR1, and CCR7 were independently expressed in primary and corresponding metastases, CCR6 was clearly overexpressed in adrenal metastases, compared with corresponding primary tumors. Moreover, CCL20, the ligand of CCR6, was preferentially expressed in adrenal tissues that developed metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
We report for the first time (to the best of our knowledge) a potential role for the CCR6 receptor in the organ orientation of the development of metastases in lung cancer. We demonstrated a statistically significant overexpression of CCR6 in adrenal metastases compared with primary lung tumors, indicating that the increased production of CCL20 in adrenal glands might contribute to the selective recruitment of CCR6-expressing cancer cells in lung cancer. This study, in concordance with the data obtained in animal models, suggests that the chemokine receptor family constitutes a biologic support of the "seed and soil" theory.
Raynaud
Christophe M
CM
Laboratoire de Radiobiologie et Oncologie, CEA, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
Mercier
Olaf
O
Dartevelle
Philippe
P
Commo
Frédéric
F
Olaussen
Ken André
KA
de Montpreville
Vincent
V
André
Fabrice
F
Sabatier
Laure
L
Soria
Jean-Charles
JC
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D054418:Chemokine CCL20 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054399:Receptors, CCR6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C106311:CCR6 protein, human; C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; C095235:CX3CR1 protein, human; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D054418:Chemokine CCL20; D054399:Receptors, CCR6; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine