title: Expressions of CXCL12/CXCR4 in oral premalignant and malignant lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 have been suggested to play important roles in the initiation or progression of cancers. The goal of the present study was to investigate alterations of CXCL12/CXCR4 in oral premalignant lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 13 normal oral epithelia, 24 dysplastic oral leukoplakia (OLK), and 40 OSCC specimens, expressions of CXCL12 and CXCR4 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CXCR4 was expressed in 37.5% of OLK and 60% of OSCC. CXCL12 was detected in 50% of OLK and 62.5% of OSCC. In OLK, CXCR4 positive ratio showed no significant difference from normal epithelia, but the CXCL12 positive ratio was significantly higher. Significant relationship between CXCL12 and CXCR4 was found both in OLK and OSCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that CXCL12/CXCR4 axis may play roles from early steps of oral malignant transformation and contribute to the progress of oral carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Guanghua School of Stomatology and Institute of Stomatological Research, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, Guangzhou, China. juanshar@tom.com
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yulei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism*; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4