title: The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is associated with the staging of gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CXCR4 is a cognitive receptor for stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and has been previously shown to be associated with tumor growth and invasion of many cancers. However, its expression and function in gastric cancer has not been well clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herein, we studied the expression of CXCR4 on gastric samples from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma in comparison with precancerous lesions by employing qRT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our qRT-PCR data show that CXCR4 is highly expressed in tissue samples from patients with gastric cancer than precancerous lesions (2.4 times higher, P value < 0.05). When we correlated the level of CXCR4 with clinicopathological findings, we observed that CXCR4 level is associated with staging of the disease and lymphatic invasion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present evidence that CXCR4 level is significantly elevated in later stages of gastric cancer. Thus, CXCR4 may play a crucial role in gastric cancer progression.
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrnoush
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikzaban
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Said
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hakhamaneshi
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fakhari
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Liver & Digestive Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanadaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sheikhesmaili
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Daem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roshani
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Science, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.affiliation: Iran Tumor Bank, Imman Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalili
keywords: CXCR4; SDF-1; gastric cancer