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Updated: Apr 9, 2026
Colorectal Cancer Cell Surface Protein Profiling Using an Antibody Microarray and Fluorescence Multiplexing
Published on: September 25, 2011
Expression of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) is down-regulated in colorectal cancer
Shihang Zhou1, Ming Liu2, Ying Hu3
1a Dalian Blood Center , Dalian , China .
Abstract:
Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) is a silent chemokine receptor which selectively binds angiogenic chemokines without inducing conventional signaling responses. DARC has been reported to inhibit the development of multiple cancers through clearance of angiogenic chemokines. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We investigated the expression of DARC in CRC and explored correlation of DARC expression with clinical pathological features and microvessel density (MVD). The protein expression levels of DARC were detected by immunohistochemistry in 90 CRC and 64 paired unaffected tissues. The mRNA levels of DARC were detected by quantitative real-time PCR in 15 CRC and paired unaffected tissues. MVD in CRC was also assessed by immunohistochemistry of CD34. We found that the mRNA and protein expression levels of DARC were significantly lower in CRC than in the unaffected tissues (p < 0.05). The DARC protein expression levels were positively correlated with DARC mRNA expression levels in both CRC (p < 0.001) and unaffected tissues (p < 0.001). We also found that DARC expression was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation (p < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01) and TNM stage (p < 0.05). Moreover, we observed a strong negative relationship between DARC expression and MVD in CRC (p < 0.001). We showed that DARC expression is down-regulated in CRC and associated with clinical pathological features and MVD of CRC. DARC might be involved in tumorigenesis, progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis of CRC.
Insights
Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) is significantly downregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC), correlating with poorer tumor differentiation and increased metastasis. Lower DARC expression is linked to higher microvessel density, suggesting a role in CRC progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) is a silent chemokine receptor known to inhibit cancer development by clearing angiogenic chemokines.
- The specific role of DARC in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis and progression remains largely undefined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate DARC expression levels in CRC tissues.
- To explore the correlation between DARC expression and clinicopathological features, including tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and microvessel density (MVD).
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify DARC protein expression in 90 CRC and 64 paired unaffected tissues.
- Quantitative real-time PCR assessed DARC mRNA levels in 15 paired CRC and unaffected tissues.
- Microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated using CD34 immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- DARC mRNA and protein expression were significantly lower in CRC tissues compared to unaffected tissues (p < 0.05).
- DARC expression positively correlated with its mRNA levels in both tumor and normal tissues (p < 0.001).
- DARC expression significantly correlated with tumor differentiation (p < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01), TNM stage (p < 0.05), and showed a strong negative correlation with MVD (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- DARC expression is downregulated in colorectal cancer.
- Reduced DARC expression is associated with adverse clinicopathological features and increased angiogenesis in CRC.
- DARC may play a crucial role in the tumorigenesis, progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis of colorectal cancer.
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