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Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Experimental Metastasis Assay
Published on: August 24, 2010
The relation between ACKR4 and CCR7 genes expression and breast cancer metastasis
Mostafa M Mohammed1, Olfat Shaker2, Maggie M Ramzy1
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt.
Aims:
Breast cancer is the most severe malignant tumor in women. Chemokines and their receptors appear to be implicated in tumorigenesis and metastatic pattern. Also the scavenger atypical chemokine receptors are emerging as crucial regulators for the availability of chemokines. Therefore the aim of the present study is to evaluate the expression of CCR7, ACKR4 and their ligand; CCL21 in human breast cancer.
Main Methods:
In this study, RT-PCR was done to detect the expression of CCR7 and ACKR4 in 50 non-metastatic and 30 metastatic breast cancer tissue. Also CCL21 level in the serum of study group was detected by ELISA. The expression of all markers is compared to 80 control healthy individual.
Key Findings:
Our results revealed the increase in expression of CCR7 and CCL21 level in metastatic group compared to non-metastatic and control groups while ACKR4 expression is significantly increased in breast tissues of non-metastatic patients compared to both control and metastatic groups. Also there was significant positive correlation between CCR7 expression and CCL21 level in cancer patients and significant negative correlation between ACKR4 and both CCR-7 and CCL21 in both non-metastatic and metastatic cancer groups.
Significance:
Thus, it might be elucidating that ACKR4 and CCR7 could be a novel target for tumor therapy as targeting the chemokine-receptors axis might represent a powerful tool to prevent infiltration and metastasis and consequently improve cancer prognosis and treatment.
Insights
This study found that increased CCR7 and CCL21 expression correlates with breast cancer metastasis, while ACKR4 is higher in non-metastatic tissues. Targeting these chemokine pathways may offer new breast cancer treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in women.
- Chemokines and their receptors play roles in cancer development and spread.
- Atypical chemokine receptors, like ACKR4, regulate chemokine availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CCR7, ACKR4, and CCL21 in human breast cancer.
- To understand the relationship between these markers and metastatic potential.
- To explore their potential as therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- RT-PCR was used to measure CCR7 and ACKR4 gene expression in 80 breast cancer tissues (50 non-metastatic, 30 metastatic).
- ELISA detected CCL21 levels in patient serum.
- Expression levels were compared between cancer groups and 80 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- CCR7 and CCL21 were significantly elevated in metastatic breast cancer tissues compared to non-metastatic and control groups.
- ACKR4 expression was higher in non-metastatic tissues than in metastatic or control tissues.
- Positive correlation found between CCR7 and CCL21; negative correlation between ACKR4 and both CCR7/CCL21.
Conclusions:
- ACKR4 and CCR7 may serve as novel therapeutic targets in breast cancer.
- Modulating the chemokine-receptor axis could inhibit tumor infiltration and metastasis.
- Targeting these pathways may improve breast cancer prognosis and treatment outcomes.
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