CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴与甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移的相关性研究

摘要

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the CXCL12-CXCR4 biological axis and lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: Expression of CXCR4 and CXCL12 mRNA in 72 fresh turnorous tissue samples of papillary thyroid cancer and lymph node tissues was determined using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while CXCR4 protein expression was measured in 52 formal in-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections by immunohistochemistry. Results: Expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein was elevated in the papillary thyroid cancer and in the metastatic tissues. The expression was significantly higher in the patient subgroup with lymph node metastasis than in the subgroup without lymph node metastasis ( P< 0.05 ). There was also elevated expression of CXCL12 mRNA and protein in the cervical lymph node tissues but no statistical differences were found between the subgroup with lymph node metastasis and that without lymph node metastasis ( P >3.05 ). Conclusion: The expression of CXCR4 andCXCL12 was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer, indicating that the CXCL12-CXCR4 biological axis can play an important role in the nodal metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer. CXCR4 is a potential therapeutic target to restrain metastasis.%目的:探讨CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴与甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移的相关性.方法:采用半定量RT-PCR和免疫组织化学法分别检测72例新鲜甲状腺乳头状癌及淋巴结组织,52例甲状腺乳头状癌及淋巴结石蜡组织中CXCR4、CXCL12 mRNA及蛋白的表达.结果:甲状腺乳头状癌组织及转移灶组织中CXCR4 mRNA及蛋白高表达,淋巴结转移组的表达显著高于非转移组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);颈部淋巴结组织中CXCL12 mRNA及蛋白均高表达,转移淋巴结及非转移淋巴结差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:CXCR4、CXCL12的表达与甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移密切相关,推测CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴在甲状腺乳头状癌转移的过程中发挥重要作用,CXCR4可作为抑制甲状腺乳头状癌转移的有效靶点.