Expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 in esophageal squamous cell and adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in esophageal cancer is of major relevance in both histologic entities--squamous cell and adenocarcinoma. Though with lack of statistical significance, strong CXCR4 expression revealed a poorer long-term prognosis following curative esophagectomy in both histologic subtypes. Thus, the exact biological functions of CXCR4 in terms of tumor dissemination of esophageal cancer is yet undetermined. Inhibition of esophageal cancer progression by CXCR4 antagonists might be a promising therapeutic option in the future.