title: Chemokine Receptor CCR3 Expression in Malignant Cutaneous Tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemokines and their receptors are important players in tumorigenesis by facilitating tumor proliferation and metastasis. Little is known about the possible function of chemokine receptors in relation to the development and progression of malignant cutaneous tumors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the chemokine receptor CCR3 expression pattern and the protein expression level in selected malignant cutaneous tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four types of cell lines (G361, A431, SK-MEL-2, SK-MEL-24) were analyzed, using Western blotting, for the expression of CCR3 protein. Immunohistochemical staining for CCR3 was done on 36 skin cancer tissue samples that included 16 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), 16 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), 16 malignant melanomas (MMs) and 6 normal tissue samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Western blot analysis showed that CCR3 protein was more expressed in the MM cell lines (G361, SK-MEL-2,SK-MEL-24) than that in the SCC cell line (A431), and the immunohistochemical analysis showed that CCR3 protein was overexpressed in MM and SCC, it was mildly expressed in BCC and it was hardly expressed in normal tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated via immunochemistry that CCR3 was more expressed in MM, followed by SCC and BCC. The existence of CCR3 protein may enhance the tumorigenic potential of malignant cutaneous tumors.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Cancer Research Center, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hae-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Mi Ryung
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Moon-Kyun
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cho