Abstract:

Objective  To investigate the relationship of CXCR4 and MMP-9 expressions and clinico-pathologic factors with early recurrence after radical resection of colorectal cancer. Methods  Expressions of CXCR4 and MMP-9 were detected in 40 cases of early recurrence colorectal cancer (recurrence time: postoperative 3 months to 1 year) and 30 cases of non-recurrence colorectal cancer (without recurrence for more than three years) in the same period with the SP immunohistochemical method. The χ2 test and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship of CXCR4 and MMP-9 expressions and clinico-pathologic factors with the early recurrence of colorectal cancer. Results  The CXCR4-positive rates in the early recurrence group and the non-recurrence group were 75.0%(30/40) and (43.3%)(13/30) respectively, and there was a significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05). The MMP-9-positive rates in the two groups were 65.0%(26/40) and 40.0%(12/30) respectively, and there was a significant difference between them(P<0.05). The risk factors for postoperative early recurrence include the tumor location (P=0.004,β=1.957,OR=7.079), invasion depth of the bowel wall（P=0.047,β=0.889, OR=2.434）and CXCR4 expression (P=0.008, β=1.855, OR=6.391). CXCR4 expression and the tumor site were the most important factors for postoperative early recurrence. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.026,β=-2.440, OR=0.087) was the protective factor for early recurrence. Conclusion  The abnormal expression of CXCR4 is closely associated with the early recurrence after radical resection of colorectal cancer, which indicates that CXCR4 expression may be involved in the development of colorectal cancer.

Key words: Chemokine receptor 4; Matrix metalloproteinase-9; Colorectal neoplasms; Immunohistochemistry