Expression of CXC-motif-chemokine 12 and the receptor C-X-C receptor 4 in glioma and theeffect on peritumoral brain edema

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between CXC-motif-chemokine 12 (CXCL12)/C-X-C receptor 4 (CXCR4) expression and peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) in glioma patients. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect the expression of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in 58 glioma tissues. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate the extent and type of brain edema in preoperative glioma patients. The association between edema and CXCL12/CXCR4 expression was examined by χ² analysis. The prognostic significance of CXCL12 or CXCR4 was determined by log-rank tests and Cox's proportional hazards model. Expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 was observed in vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells. The degree (P=0.033) and morphology (P=0.033) of PTBE were significantly associated with the level of CXCL12 expression in vascular endothelial cells. The degree (P=0.001) and morphology (P=0.001) of PTBE were associated with the level of CXCR4 expression in tumor cells. CXCR4-positive vascular endothelial cells were significantly associated only with the degree of edema (P=0.030). Therefore, the present study indicated that levels of CXCL12 expression in vascular endothelial cells and CXCR4 expression in tumor cells are associated with PTBE.