THE CC CHEMOKINE MIG IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED IN SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

97th DOG Annual Meeting 1999

P522
THE CC CHEMOKINE MIG IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED IN SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

U. Spandau*, A. Toksoy^§, S. Verhaart^#, R. Gillitzer^§, F. Kruse*

Introduction: In the most cases, the squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) is localised in the transition zone of cornea and conjunctiva, the limbus. Chemokines are a subfamily of cytokines with chemo-attractive properties for specific leukocyte subtypes. In addition, chemokines have angiogenic and angiostatic properties. Recent studies showed that the CC chemokine MIG posesses anti-tumor activity in vivo. The expression of the CXC chemokines Gro-a and IL-8 correlated with the metastatic potential of melanoma cell lines in mice.

Materials and methods: Squamous cell carcinoma biopsies (n=8) were examined by in situ hybridization for the expression of MIG, IL-8 und Gro-a.

Results: MIG was higher expressed than Gro-a and Il-8. All chemokines were expressed by epithelial tumor cells and infiltrating cells. MIG was expressed in epidermal foci as well as adjacent leukocytes. In contrast, the expression of Gro-a and Il-8 was diffuse in subepidermal cells.

Discussion: The results demonstrate that chemokines participate in the pathogenesis of SCCA. This role may lie in the recuitment of infiltrating cells and in the regulation of angiogenesis. Greater expression of angiostatic than angiogenic chemokines (MIG > Gro-a und Il-8) indicates an angio-static milieu in SCCA. A deeper understanding of the role of chemokines in eye tumors may lead to the development of new therapeutic regimens.

* Augenklinik der Universität Heidelberg, INF 400, D-69120 Heidelberg
^§ Hautklinik der Universität Würzburg, Josef Schneiderstrasse, 2, D-97080 Würzburg
^# Pathologie der Universität von Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Südafrika

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