ELR+ CXC chemokine expression in benign and malignant colorectal conditions

Chemokine expression was assessed by microdissection, quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).In contrast to CXCL6, we demonstrated CXCL1 and CXCL5 mRNA and protein expression to be significantly up-regulated in CRC and CRLM tissue specimens in relation to their matched tumor neighbor tissues. Moreover, both chemokine ligands were demonstrated to be significantly higher expressed in CRC tissues than in CRA tissues thus indicating a progressive increase in the transition from the premalignant condition to the development of the malignant status. Although a comparative analysis of the CXCL1/CXCL5 protein expression profiles in CRC patients revealed that the absolute expression level of CXCL1 was significantly higher in comparison to CXCL5, mRNA- and protein overexpression of CXCL5 in CRC and CRLM tissues was much more pronounced (80- and 60- fold in CRC tissues, respectively) in comparison to CXCL1 (5- and 3.5- fold in CRC tissues, respectively).Our results demonstrate a significant association between CXCL1 and CXCL5 expression with CRC and CRLM suggesting for both chemokine ligands a potential role in the progression from CRA to CRC and thus, in the initiation of CRC.To date, colorectal cancer (CRC) constitutes one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In spite of many currently available and continuously improving therapies for early stage colon cancer, the majority of CRC patients develop metastases which worsen the prognosis for survival dramatically [1,2].The development of cancer metastases is a complex process consisting of various interacting mechanisms, which involve numerous biochemical and immunological changes like abnormally expressed growth factors and cytokines [3]. One group of cytokines that recently attracted a lot of attention with view to cancer-related mechanisms, are small signaling molecules termed chemokines [4]. Chemokines were originally identifie