Can expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 be used to predict survival of gastric cancer patients?

Background: Currently, there is no effective therapy for advanced gastric cancer. In this study, we investigated whether protein expression of CXCL12 and/or its receptor CXCR4 is associated with clinicopathological features and/or survival of gastric cancer.

Materials and methods: Primary tumor specimens from patients (n=137) with pathologically-confirmed gastric cancer, collected between 2001 and 2009, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using anti-CXCL12 and anti-CXCR4 antibodies.

Results: Expression of CXCL12 was directly associated with tumor differentiation (p=0.0143) but inversely associated with depth of invasion (p=0.0255), lymphatic invasion (p=0.0173), venous invasion (p=0.0022) and stage (p=0.049). Expression of CXCR4 was associated with depth of invasion (p=0.005) and stage (p=0.028). Increased CXCR4 expression, but not CXCL12 expression, was associated with 5-year cancer-specific survival (p=0.0079).

Conclusion: CXCL12 was not associated with survival. Positive CXCR4 expression in gastric carcinoma was significantly associated with poor survival and, therefore, may be a potential biomarker for predicting poor survival.