Abstract:

To study the role of IL-8 and its receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 in gastrointestinal and hepatic cancers, expression of IL-8 and its receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 were investigated in esophageal, gastric, colorectal cancer as well as hepatic cancer by using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR assay. The positive staining of CXCR1 appeared in the nuclear membrane of malignant crypts and in the cytoplasm of malignant crypts, while CXCR2 was observed in cytoplasm of the tumor nest of gastrointestinal cancers. In primary hepatic cancer, CXCR1 and CXCR2 were stained in the cytoplasm of the tumor nest, but not in the adjacent hepatic tissue. Furthermore, expression of IL-8, CXCR1 and CXCR2 transcripts was analyzed by RTPCR assay. CXCR1 and CXCR2 transcripts were detected, which confirmed the results of immunohistochemistry. IL-8 transcripts were detectable in primary gastrointestinal and hepatic cancers, suggesting that IL-8 involved in gastrointestinal and hepatic cancers. Further analysis showed that there was consistency of the presence of IL-8 and CXCR1／CXCR2 in primary gastrointestinal and hepatic cancers (p=0.0448). These data suggest that IL8 together with its receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 may play roles in promoting gastrointestinal and hepatic tumor development and progression.

Key words: CXCR1; CXCR2; gastrointestinal cancer; hepatic cancer; IL-8