Objective:To explore the expression of CXCR4 in non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)

and further to explore the meaning of CXCR4

especially the role of CXCR4 in regional lymph nodes metastasis in NSCLC.Methods:SABC immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of CXCR4.The specimens were 41 cases of primary tumor tissues of NSCLC

25 cases of regional metastasized lymph nodes

and 20 cases of normal lung tissues.Results:The positive rate of the expression of CXCR4 was 92.68% in primary tumor cells

and was higher than that in normal lung cells(P<0.001)

which was only 10%.There was no significant difference of CXCR4 expression in primary tumor cells with different clinicopathological characteristics(P>0.05).There was no significant correlation between the CXCR4 expression and the regional lymph nodes metastasis occurring(P>0.05).The positive expression rate of CXCR4 was 96% in cancer cells in regional metastasized lymph nodes.And its expression was lower than that in primary tumors(P<0.05).Conclusions:(1)NSCLCs of different histological types possibly have mutual origins.(2)CXCR4 probably only plays an role in inducing target metastasis of cancer cells to regional lymph nodes.