Expression of CXCR4 in the Primary Lesion of Recurrent Metastatic Breast Cancer and Its Association With Prognosis

DanChan Huang,1 DanXia Lin,2 SiXian Liang,2 Jing Lin1 1Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou City, Guangdong Province, 515000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Breast Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou City, Guangdong Province, 515000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jing Lin, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57, Changping Road, Longhu District, Shantou City, Guangdong Province, 515000, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: This study examined CXCR4 expression in primary lesions of recurrent metastatic breast cancer patients, analyzing its association with clinicopathological features, chemotherapy efficacy, and prognosis.Methods: Eighty-five early surgical specimens of advanced BCa were examined for CXCR4 expression using immunohistochemical staining. The relationships between CXCR4 expression and clinical pathological factors, such as tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, and metastatic site, were statistically analyzed, along with their effect on the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with advanced BCa.Results: Significant associations were found between high CXCR4 levels in primary lesions of recurrent metastatic BCa and more frequent visceral metastases (p = 0.010), along with a higher rate of lymph node metastases (p = 0.022). Patients with advanced BCa showing high CXCR4 expression had lower efficacy with platinum-based chemotherapy (p = 0.002). Patients with high CXCR4 expression exhibited shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to those with low expression, though the differences lacked statistical significance.Conclusion: Patients with recurrent metastatic BCa with high expression of CXCR4 in primary lesions have poor efficacy with platinum-based chemotherapy, shorter DFS and OS, and poor prognosis. CXCR4 may be an important biomarker in metastatic BCa. It can be used not only as a predictor of metastasis and prognosis, but also as a therapeutic target and a tool to monitor treatment efficacy.Keywords: breast cancer, CXCR4, chemotherapy efficacy, prognosis