Chemokines in human colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Chemokines (CKs) may promote antitumor immunity in cancer, act as tumor growth factors, influence metastatic spreading or angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether CK expression is altered in colorectal carcinomas compared to normal mucosa and to elucidate its possible clinico-pathological implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS The levels of CCL2 (MCP-1), CCL4 (MIP-1beta), CCL5 (RANTES), CXCL 1 (GRO-alpha), CXCL 5 (ENA-78) and CXCL 8 (IL-8) were investigated in 10 colorectal carcinomas and their corresponding normal mucosa by the use of ELISA. RESULTS All CK analyzed, with the exception of CCL5 (RANTES), were expressed at a significantly higher level in malignant tissue. CONCLUSION Therapeutic studies in colon carcinomas should, therefore, focus more on the neutralization of CKs than on their application.