Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells in the circulation that are derived from the original tumor or metastatic foci. Chemokines and their receptors have major roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. They also represent a very promising group of markers to detect CTCs in HCC patients. The CCL20-CCR6 axis promotes cancer proliferation, migration, and tumor remodeling through immune cell control.
Objective: This study aimed to identify the role of CTC and CCR6 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
Patients and methods: The study included 91 subjects; 71 HCC patients and 20 normal individuals. Routine laboratory investigations included CBC, PT and INR, ALT, AST, bilirubin, albumin, alpha fetoprotein, and creatinine in addition to detection of chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) RNA by real time PCR and CTCs by flow cytometry as CD45^¯CK19⁺ cells were performed for all subjects enrolled in this study.
Results: There was significant difference between the studied groups as regards liver function tests. Also, high significant difference was recorded regarding CCR6 RNA expression, CTCs count and hepatic focal lesion detection by ultra sound. No significant difference between both groups regarding kidney function tests. Correlation studies between CTCs and other variables showed positive correlations with liver function tests (ALT, AST, BIL, Alb, AFP, and INR) and negative correlations with albumin and platelets.
Conclusion: CCR6 mRNA concentration was significantly increased in HCC patients and its elevation was correlated with CTCs percentage. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combined assessment of CTCs and CCR6 could be considered as noninvasive biomarkers for HCC patients.