ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of CD133 protein in primary lesions of gastric cancer and its clinical significance. MethodsThe expressions of CD133 protein in the primary lesion of tumor and normal gastric mucosa tissues confirmed by using histopathologic examination of 99 patients were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The correlation of CD133 protein expression with the clinicopathologic parameters and features after operation were analyzed. ResultsPositive cells of CD133 protein were localized in the gland parietal and cell membrane surface. The expression of CD133 protein in the cancer and normal gastric mucosa tissues were 29.29% (29/99) and zero, respectively (P=0.000). Expression of CD133 protein in tumor with diameter gt;5 cm was significantly higher than that in the tumor with diameter ≤5 cm (P=0.041). The expression of CD133 protein was correlated with TNM stage (P=0.044), lymph node metastasis (P=0.017), lymphatic vessel invasion (P=0.000), and vascular invasion (P=0.000). Logistic regression analysis revealed that invasion depth of tumor (P=0.011), lymph node metastasis (P=0.043), and TNM stage (P＝0.049) were independent risk factors for CD133 protein expression. Survival time of patients with positive expression of CD133 protein was significantly shorter than that negative expression of CD133 protein (P＝0.046). Cox proportial hazard regression model analysis demonstrated that lymph node metastasis (P=0.042), TNM stage (P=0.046), and positive expression of CD133 protein (P=0.046) were independent risk factors for patients survival. ConclusionThe CD133 protein expression in primary lesions is closely related with development, metastasis, and prognosis of gastric cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of CD133 and CD44 protein in primary lesions of gastric cancer and its clinical significance. MethodsThe expressions of CD44 and CD133 protein in gastric cancer tissues of 100 patients with gastric cancer were detected by immunohistocheimcal stainings.The relation between the expressions of CD44 and CD133 protein and the clinicopathologic characters were analyzed. ResultsBoth CD44 and CD133 protein were expressed on the cell membranes.No correlation were found between CD44/CD133 and the clinicopathologic parameters include gender and age (P > 0.05), but the positive expression rate of CD44/CD133 with diameter>5 cm was significantly higher than that tumor with diameter≤5 cm (CD44 P=0.150;CD133 P=0.056), and correlated with the tissue differentiation (CD44 P=0.008;CD133 P=0.007), vascular invasion (CD44 P=0.043;CD133 P=0.023), lymphatic vessel invasion (CD44 P=0.020;CD133 P=0.044), lymph nodes metastasis (CD44 P=0.002;CD133 P=0.004), inva-sion depth of tumor (CD44 P=0.006;CD133 P=0.021), and pTNM stage (CD44 P=0.034;CD133 P=0.001).No correlation were found between the co-expression of CD44 and CD133 protein and the clinicopathologic parameters include gender, age, tissue differentiation, and vascular invasion (P > 0.05), but the positive co-expression rate of CD44 and CD133 with diameter>5 cm was significantly higher than that tumor with diameter≤5 cm (P=0.010), and correlated with lymphatic vessel invasion (P=0.003), lymph nodes metastasis (P=0.045), invasion depth of tumor (P=0.041), and pTNM stage (P=0.049).The Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that there was positive correlation between the expressions of CD44 and CD133 protein (r=0.207, P=0.039).Univariate analysis showed that lymph nodes metastasis (P < 0.001), pTNM stages (P=0.013), CD44 protein expression (P=0.005), CD133 protein expression (P=0.002), and co-expression of CD44 and CD133 protein (P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with 3-year survival rate of pati-ents with gastric cancer respectively.Logistic regression analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis (P=0.038) was independent risk factor for co-expression of CD44 and CD133 protein.Multivariate analysis with the Cox regression models showed that co-expression of CD44 and CD133 protein (P=0.003) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.006) were significantly associated with poor prognosis. ConclusionsCD44 and CD133 protein may be considered as robust cancer stem cell markers in gastric cancer.The co-expression of CD44 and CD133 protein is the independent prognosis factor for gastric cancer and strongly associated with poor prognosis when they are expressed more high.