Expression and Prognostic Significance of Stem Cell Marker CD133 in Survival Rate of Patients with Colon Cancer

Authors: Hassan Ehteram, Fatemeh Aslanbeigi, Ebrahim Ghoochani Khorasani, Mohammad Tolouee & Hamed Haddad Kashani

Abstract

Introduction

Today, colon cancer is one of the most common types of gastrointestinal cancer worldwide. CD133 as a known cancer stem cell marker has been found effective in cell proliferation and differentiation in various cancers, including colon cancer. We aimed to investigate the relationship between CD133 expression in colon cancer with prognostic factors and survival rate of patients with colon cancer by immunohistochemistry.

Methods

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue was taken from patients with colon cancer. Histopathology examination was done using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine CD133 expression. Association between CD133 expression and clinicopathological profile was then assessed.

Results

There was a statistically significant association between CD133 protein expression and sex , cancer stage, and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.044, p = 0.131, and p = 0.002, respectively). However, no significant correlation was identified between CD133 expression and other factors, including age of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) (p = 0.267), tumor location (p = 0.494), tumor differentiation grade (p = 0.263), neural tissue invasion, and 5-year survival (p = 0.054).

Conclusion

CD133 is a useful predictive or prognostic biomarker for CRC in clinical assessment and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for CRC.