Distribution of CXCR4 and γ-catenin expression pattern in breast cancer subtypes and their relationship to axillary nodal involvement

Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and γ-catenin are known to play an important role in development of metastasis in breast cancer. However, there is not enough information about these biological markers’ distribution in different breast cancer subtypes, or their relationship to lymph node metastases in each subtype.

In this study, staining characteristics of CXCR4 and γ-catenin were analyzed in each breast cancer subtype and their relationship to lymph node involvement explored. There was a statistically significant relationship between CXCR4 and certain tumor subtypes (p < 0.05). Basal-like and HER2 enriched tumors showed strong CXCR4 positivity (45.7%). Furthermore, a significant correlation was discovered between CXCR4 positivity and lymph node involvement (p < 0.05). Among tumor subtypes staining positively with CXCR4, 80% of basal-like, 90% of HER2 enriched, and 78.5% of luminal A showed axillary lymph node involvement. In general, there was a positive relationship between histological grade and CXCR4 expression (p = 0.004). A statistically significant correlation existed between HER2 positivity and γ-catenin expression (p < 0.05).

Basal-like and HER2 enriched breast cancer subtypes express CXCR4 staining more often than the other subtypes. Additionally, there is also a positive relationship between lymph node involvement and CXCR4 staining of these subtypes.