Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/CCL2 in gastric cancer and its relationship with tumor hypoxia

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the expression and prognostic value of CCL2 in gastric cancer, as well as its relationship with tumor hypoxia. Methods: Tumor tissues from 68 gastric cancer patients (GC) were analyzed, and the expression of CCL2 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Statistical evaluations that were used included univariate logrank tests of Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression model analysis. Results: CCL2 was highly expressed in 66.2% (45/68) of gastric cancer specimens. The distribution of CCL2 expression in tumor tissue was consistent with that of HIF-1α. Patients with high CCL2 expression in GC had a lower overall survival rate [50.6 mo (95%CI: 44.44-56.93) vs 64.6 mo (95%CI: 60.27-68.94), P = 0.013]. Conclusion: CCL2 expression correlates closely with HIF-1α expression in gastric cancer. CCL2 may be an independent prognostic marker for GC. © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.