title: CCL7 and CCL21 overexpression in gastric cancer is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how a complex network of CC chemokine ligands (CCLs) and their receptors influence the progression of tumor and metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of CCL7, CCL8 and CCL21 in 194 gastric cancer samples and adjacent normal tissues. We analyzed their correlation with tumor metastasis, clinicopathologic parameters and clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the higher expression of CCL7 and CCL21 in cancer tissues than in normal tissues was significantly correlated with advanced depth of wall invasion, lymph node metastasis and higher tumor node metastasis stage. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that CCL7 and CCL21 overexpression in cancer tissues was correlated with poor prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that overexpression of these two CC chemokine ligands is associated with tumor metastasis and serves as a prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsann-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Li-Yu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chee-Chan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Shu-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D054421:Chemokine CCL21 / Q000378:metabolism*; D054410:Chemokine CCL7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D054412:Chemokine CCL8 / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C515478:CCL21 protein, human; C515453:CCL8 protein, human; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D054410:Chemokine CCL7; D054412:Chemokine CCL8