Raheleh Roudi1, Zahra Madjd2, Alireza Korourian3, Mitra Mehrazma4, Saadat Molanae5, Mehrdad Nasrollahzadeh Sabet1, Ahmad Shariftabrizi6. 1. Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Pathology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Pathology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Pathology, Milad Hospital, Tehran, Iran. 6. Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: According to the cancer stem cell theory, tumors originate from a subset of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for tumor initiation, resistance and relapse. CD44 is a cell adhesion molecule that can aid in the identification of CSCs in various malignancies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the expression level and clinical significance of CD44 in lung cancer samples. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-five lung tumor samples including 74 (38%) squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 61 (31%) adenocarcinomas (ADC), 23 (12%) large cell carcinoma (LCC) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) group and 37 (19%) small cell lung cancer (SCLC) samples were examined for the expression of CD44 using immunohistochemistry method. The correlation of CD44 expression with clinicopathological parameters as well as Ki-67 status was also assessed. RESULTS: Univariate analysis demonstrated that CD44 expression was significantly higher in NSCLC compared to SCLC (P < 0.001). Among NSCLC, higher level of CD44 expression was found in SCC compared to ADC (P< 0.001) and LCC (P=0.046). Increased expression of CD44 was significantly correlated with higher grade tumors which correspond to poor prognosis in SCC (P=0.012) and the lower level of CD44 expression was more often found in well differentiated ADC tumors (P=0.03). In addition, high expression of CD44 was significantly associated with decreased level of proliferative marker Ki-67 (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: CD44 could be a valuable tool for the study of lung CSCs and provide a novel therapeutic target for treatment of the patients with lung cancer in combination with conventional therapy.
BACKGROUND: According to the cancer stem cell theory, tumors originate from a subset of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for tumor initiation, resistance and relapse. CD44 is a cell adhesion molecule that can aid in the identification of CSCs in various malignancies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the expression level and clinical significance of CD44 in lung cancer samples. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-five lung tumor samples including 74 (38%) squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 61 (31%) adenocarcinomas (ADC), 23 (12%) large cell carcinoma (LCC) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) group and 37 (19%) small cell lung cancer (SCLC) samples were examined for the expression of CD44 using immunohistochemistry method. The correlation of CD44 expression with clinicopathological parameters as well as Ki-67 status was also assessed. RESULTS: Univariate analysis demonstrated that CD44 expression was significantly higher in NSCLC compared to SCLC (P < 0.001). Among NSCLC, higher level of CD44 expression was found in SCC compared to ADC (P< 0.001) and LCC (P=0.046). Increased expression of CD44 was significantly correlated with higher grade tumors which correspond to poor prognosis in SCC (P=0.012) and the lower level of CD44 expression was more often found in well differentiated ADC tumors (P=0.03). In addition, high expression of CD44 was significantly associated with decreased level of proliferative marker Ki-67 (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS:CD44 could be a valuable tool for the study of lung CSCs and provide a novel therapeutic target for treatment of the patients with lung cancer in combination with conventional therapy.
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Keywords:
CD44; Cancer stem cells; Ki-67; non-small cell lung cancer; small cell lung cancer