Certain chemokines have been proposed to distinctly contribute to tumor growth, dissemination and local immune escape. Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been linked to tumor progression in diverse tumor entities. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the expression of CXCR4 influences progression of human pancreatic cancer. CXCR4 expression of pancreatic cancer was retrospectively assessed by immunohistochemistry in 103 patients with pancreatic cancer. Intensity of CXCR4 expression was correlated with both tumor and patient characteristics. Human pancreatic cancer revealed variable intensities of CXCR4 expression. Strong CXCR4 expression was significantly associated with advanced UICC stages (P=0.03) and revealed a trend for hematogenous metastasis (P=0.09) and progressed local tumor stages (P=0.15). In summary, strong expression of CXCR4 was significantly associated with advanced pancreatic cancer.

14018 Background: Despite many pathophysiological analyses, the process of tumor dissemination of pancreatic cancer remains vague. In diverse other tumor entities, expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been linked to tumor dissemination and poor prognosis. Therefore, we evaluated, if the expression of this chemokine receptor exerts similar effects in human pancreatic cancer. Methods: Expression of CXCR4 was evaluated in 120 patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer and eight different pancreatic cancer cell lines. Expression intensities of tumor samples were correlated with both, tumor and patients characteristics. Results: Human pancreatic cancer samples and cell lines displayed variable intensities of CXCR4. CXCR4 revealed predominantly a cytoplasmatic, and in few specimens an additional weak membranous location. Strong CXCR4 expression was significantly associated with progressed disease as indicated by UICC status (P=0.031) and revealed a strong, yet not significant trend with distant tumor cell dissemination and locally progressed tumors (P=0.08; P=0.11, respectively). Conclusion: Strong expression of CXCR4 by pancreatic cancer is significantly associated with progressed tumor stages. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

No abstract