Atypical chemokine receptors predict lymph node metastasis and prognosis in patients with cervical squamous cell cancer.

Abstract Objective Atypical chemokine receptors (ACRs), including CCX-CKR, DARC, and D6, have been reported to be involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic importance of ACRs in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Methods The expression of three ACRs was investigated by immunohistochemical (IHC) examination in a total of 317 cervical specimens including 40 normal cervical tissues, 50 cases of carcinoma in situ of cervix (CIS), and 227 cases of CSCC by immunohistochemistry. Results The expression rate of DARC and CCX-CKR in CSCC, CIS, and normal cervix increased gradually (p Conclusions Our results suggest that the loss of ACRs may play important roles in the tumorigenesis and migration of cervical cancer. ACR expression may be considered as prognostic markers in patients with CSCC.