Study on CXCR4/SDF-1α axis in lymph node metastasis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma

CXCR4/stromal-cell–derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) is involved in many cancer metastatic mechanisms. Cervical squamous cell cancer (SCC) tissues ( n = 35), normal cervical tissues ( n = 10), metastatic ( n = 10) and nonmetastatic lymph nodes ( n = 50), and Hela cells were stained immunohistochemically with CXCR4 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Meanwhile, lymph nodes were stained immunohistochemically with rabbit anti-SDF-1α. In vitro invasion of Hela cells was evaluated using Transwell Permeable Supports (Corning, NY), in which Hela cells with/without CXCR4 mAb preincubation were seeded in the upper chambers and medium containing 0–100 ng/mL SDF-1α was added to the lower compartments. For evaluating the effect of CXCR4/SDF-1α on proliferation of cervical cancer cells, Hela cells were cultured for 72 h exposed to SDF-1α with and without CXCR4 mAb. We found that CXCR4 was expressed on SCC cells in all cervical cancer, metastatic lymph node, and Hela cells but not in normal cervix. SDF-1α was expressed on lymph cells in all lymph nodes. SDF-1α induced the directed migration of Hela cells with a concentration-dependent model, which was inhibited by CXCR4 mAb ( P < 0.05). SDF-1α also stimulated the proliferation of Hela cells mediated by CXCR4 ( P < 0.05). CXCR4/SDF-1α axis probably participates in the metastasis toward lymph nodes in cervical cancer.