P87 DETECTION OF CIRCULATING TUMOUR CELLS (CTCS) IN HEPATOCELLULAR (HCC) CANCER PATIENTS USING THE IMAGESTREAM

cell survival was evaluated by MTT. Immuno-histochemistry was conducted to evaluate the expression of CXCR7 in human specimens of CCA. Results: CXCR7 was expressed by CCA cells in human tissues and by CCA cell lines in vitro. CCX733, a specific antagonist of CXCR7, inhibited CXCL12-induced HuCCT-1 migration and survival, without affecting CXCL12-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT. Similarly, in CXCR7-depleted HuCCT-1 cells the ability of CXCL12 to induce cell migration was reduced. Knock-down of beta arrestin-2 also reduced the ability of CXCL12 to induce cell migration. In contrast, pretreatment with pertussin toxin, a Gi inhibitor, affected CXCL12-induced cell survival but not CXCL12mediated chemotaxis. Conclusions: CCA cells express CXCR7 in vivo and in vitro. Activation of CXCR7 is involved in CXCL12-induced CCA migration and survival via activation of different signaling pathways.