Expression of CXCR4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma: correlations with clinicopathology and pivotal role of proliferation

Background: The chemokine SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 play active role in the metastasis and proliferation of several malignancies. Methods: In this study, we used an immunohistochemical technique in 91 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and flow cytometry technique in oral SCC cell line, and then evaluated the role of proliferation of CXCR4 using MTT assay in oral SCC cell line. Results: The expression of CXCR4 in 91 specimens of oral SCC was 62.6% and in oral SCC cell line was 68.6%. There was a significant association between the expression of CXCR4 and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.012), tumor size (P = 0.01), UICC stage (P = 0.016), tumor histology grade (P < 0.001). SDF-1 stimulated proliferation of oral SCC cell and CXCR4 neutralization by monoclonal antibodies decreased proliferation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that CXCR4 might be a novel biomarker to evaluate the biological behavior of oral SCC. CXCR4 inhibitors or antagonists might be potential anticancer agents to suppress tumor proliferation.