Shirin Sedaghat1, Elmira Gheytanchi, Mojgan Asgari, Raheleh Roudi, Hossein Keymoosi, Zahra Madjd. 1. *Oncopatholgy Research Center †Department of Pathology ‡Department of Pathology, Hasheminejad Urology-Nephrology Center §Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Treatment failure, recurrence, and metastasis in bladder cancer are attributed to a subset of tumor cells expressing cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. This study aimed to explore the expression levels and the clinical significance of putative CSC markers OCT4 and CD133 in bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemical analysis was applied to investigate the expression patterns of potential CSC markers OCT4 and CD133 in bladder cancer samples. The correlation between the expressions of each marker and clinicopathologic parameters was then analyzed. RESULTS: There was a significant association between OCT4 expression and the TNM stage of bladder cancer (P<0.001). Our analysis demonstrated a significant association between the intensity of staining and the presence of lamina propria and muscularis propria invasion (P=0.02 and 0.02, respectively), whereas a relative inverse correlation was found between CD133 expression with lamina propria invasion (P=0.051) and muscularis propria invasion (P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The correlation of OCT4, but not CD133, with the invasiveness of bladder cancer revealed that OCT4 can be considered as a key regulator of tumor progression, aggressive behavior, and metastasis; therefore, OCT4 can be a potential marker for targeted therapy of bladder cancer.
BACKGROUND: Treatment failure, recurrence, and metastasis in bladder cancer are attributed to a subset of tumor cells expressing cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. This study aimed to explore the expression levels and the clinical significance of putative CSC markers OCT4 and CD133 in bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemical analysis was applied to investigate the expression patterns of potential CSC markers OCT4 and CD133 in bladder cancer samples. The correlation between the expressions of each marker and clinicopathologic parameters was then analyzed. RESULTS: There was a significant association between OCT4 expression and the TNM stage of bladder cancer (P<0.001). Our analysis demonstrated a significant association between the intensity of staining and the presence of lamina propria and muscularis propria invasion (P=0.02 and 0.02, respectively), whereas a relative inverse correlation was found between CD133 expression with lamina propria invasion (P=0.051) and muscularis propria invasion (P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The correlation of OCT4, but not CD133, with the invasiveness of bladder cancer revealed that OCT4 can be considered as a key regulator of tumor progression, aggressive behavior, and metastasis; therefore, OCT4 can be a potential marker for targeted therapy of bladder cancer.