The expression of chemokines CCL19, CCL21 and their receptor CCR7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its relevance to cervical lymph node metastasis

• Published in: Tumor biology Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 65 - 70
• Main Authors: Oliveira-Neto, Helenisa Helena, de Souza, Pedro Paulo Chaves, da Silva, Márcio Roberto Barbosa, Mendonça, Elismauro Francisco, Silva, Tarcília Aparecida, Batista, Aline Carvalho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; CC chemokine receptors; CCL19 protein; CCL21 protein; CCR7 protein; Cervix; Chemokine CCL19 - genetics; Chemokine CCL19 - metabolism; Chemokine CCL21 - genetics; Chemokine CCL21 - metabolism; Chemokines; Female; Gene expression; Humans; Lymph nodes; Lymph Nodes - metabolism; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphatic system; Male; Metastases; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - genetics; Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Mucosa; Oral cancer; oral squamous cell carcinoma; Receptors, CCR7 - genetics; Receptors, CCR7 - metabolism; Research Article; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Statistics; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Chemokine; CCL21; Lymph node; CCR7; CCL19; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Metastasis
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1007/s13277-012-0511-3

The purpose of this study is to determine the expression of CCL19, CCL21, and CCR7 in samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and their relationship with clinical and microscopic parameters. A comparative analysis was made of the mRNA expression of these chemokines and receptor in OSCC and normal oral mucosa. The immunoexpression of CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 was also verified in OSCC and lymph nodes. Statistical significance was accepted at P  < 0.05. Similar levels of CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 mRNA in OSCC and normal oral mucosa were seen. A low expression of CCL19 and CCL21 in the intra- and peritumoral regions was observed. Scarce CCL19 + and CCL21 + cells were also noted in metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes. No association was found between the expression of these chemokines and clinical and microscopic parameters. Our findings would suggest that CCL19 and CCL21 may not be associated with cervical lymph node metastasis or other clinical and microscopic factors in OSCC.