Correlation effect of EGFR and CXCR4 and CCR7 chemokine receptors in predicting breast cancer metastasis and prognosis

The CXCR4, CCR7, CXCL12, CCL21, and EGFR biomarkers were analyzed along with ER, PR, and HER-2/neu in breast cancer tissue microarray (TMA) specimens, including 200 primary breast cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry. Corresponding lymph nodes from the same patients were also examined using the same method.Together with their CXCL12 and CCL21 ligands, CXCR4 and CCR7 were significantly highly expressed in tumor cells with lymph node (LN) metastasis. Similarly, EGFR was expressed highly in tumors with LN metastasis. The ligands were especially expressed in metastatic tumors than in primary tumors from the same patients. Moreover, the expression of both CXCR4 accompanied by CCR7 and CXCL12 accompanied by CCL21 were up-regulated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients exhibiting high CXCR4, CCR7, and EGFR expression experienced a shorter survival period compared with those with low expression.The expression of CXCR4, CCR7, and EGFR may be associated with LN metastasis. Moreover, the expression of these receptors can serve as an indicator of undesirable prognosis in patients with breast cancer.Breast cancer ranks among the most common malignant tumors afflicting women worldwide. Despite decreased mortality rates resulting from combined therapy, breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in women. Particularly in the last two decades, incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer have climbed sharply in China, thus attracting increased attention from researchers.Metastasis is one characteristic of malignant tumors which determines the course of therapy and cancer prognosis. It is a multifactorial, nonrandom, and sequential process with an organ-selective characteristic. In essence, axillary lymph node metastasis is the most frequently occurring metastatic disease; it can be seen as a surrogate for distant metastasis and long-term survival [1].Although several molecules are involved in breast cancer metastasis, precise mechanism of tumor cell