[Expression of CCR6 and CCR7 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma]

To evaluate the expressions of chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6), chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) and their ligands (CCL20, CCL19/CCL21) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and then explore their correlation with the clinicopathological features of LSCC.

Blood samples, fresh specimens of LSCC and paired adjacent tissues were collected. The expressions of CCR6, CCR7 and their ligands CCL20, CCL19/ CCL21 mRNA as well as the protein CCR6, CCR7 were detected by real-time qRT-PCR and IHC respectively. Flow cytometry was also used to investigate CCR6, CCR7 expressed on PBMC.

The relative expression levels of CCR6, CCR7, CCL19 and CCL21 mRNA in tumor tissue was significantly higher than that of adjacent tissues (P < 0.05), while the relative expression level of CCL20 mRNA in tumor tissue were significantly lower than that of adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). IHC confirmed the expression of protein CCR6 and CCR7 in both tumor tissue and metastatic ILN and the expression levels of protein CCR6, CCR7 were higher in the cases with lymphatic metastasis than that of those without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). FCM showed the percentage of CD4+ CCR6+ T cells of LSCC was significantly higher than that of normal control (P < 0.05), while that of CD4+ CCR7+ T cells was significantly lower (P < 0.05).

CCR6 and CCR7 are expressed in tumor situ, metastatic LN and PBMC,and might exert a potential role in LSCC development.