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

AIM:To investigate the expression and prognostic value of CCL2 in gastric cancer,as well as its relationshipwith tumor hypoxia.METHODS:Tumor tissues from 68 gastric cancer patients(GC)were analyzed,and the expression of CCL2and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha(HIF-1α)in tumortissues was detected by immunohistochemistry.Statistical evaluations that were used included univariate logrank tests of Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Coxregression model analysis.RESULTS:CCL2 was highly expressed in 66.2%(45/68)of gastric cancer specimens.The distribution of CCL2expression in tumor tissue was consistent with thatof HIF-1α.Patients with high CCL2 expression in GChad 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-1αexpression in gastric cancer.CCL2 may be an independent prognostic marker for GC.