The expression and prognostic impact of CXC-chemokines in stage II and III colorectal cancer epithelial and stromal tissue

Background: The CXC-chemokine expression is linked with colorectal cancer (CRC) progression but their significance in resected CRC is unclear. We explored the prognostic impact of such expression in stage II and III CRC. Methods: Tissue microarrays were constructed from stage II and III CRC biopsies (n=254), and the expression of CXCL1 and CXCL8, and their receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2, in malignant and adjacent normal tissue was graded by immunohistochemistry and was correlated with prognostic factors. Results: Expression of CXCL1, CXCR1 and CXCR2 was elevated in tumour epithelium relative to normal adjacent tissue (P