title: The CXCR4-CXCL12 pathway facilitates the progression of pancreatic cancer via induction of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study reports the influence of CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 on the progression of pancreatic cancer and illuminates the correlation between the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis and the angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 patients with pancreatic cancer participated in the current study. The expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in cancerous tissues, paracancerous tissues, normal pancreas, and lymph nodes surrounding the pancreas were investigated using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, we assessed microvessel density (MVD) and microlymphatic vessel density (MLVD) in tumor tissues using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CXCL12 expression in tumor tissues was significantly lower than that of paracancerous tissues, normal pancreas, and lymph nodes. In contrast, CXCR4 expression in cancerous tissues was considerably higher than that of normal pancreas. Additionally, a significant correlation between the expression pattern of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis and clinicopathologic features, such as lymph node metastasis, was identified. Furthermore, we found that CXCL12 expression was significantly associated with MVD but not significantly associated with MLVD, while CXCR4 expression was significantly associated with MLVD but not significantly associated with MVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chemotactic interaction between CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 may be a critical event during the progression of pancreatic cancer. The underlying mechanism may be the induction of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis regulated by the interaction of CXCL12 and CXCR4.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Tumor Hospital, Ji'nan, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Wenhua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Changliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ailiang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wuyuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ziqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4