[Correlation research between cancer stem cells and the pathological grades of neuroepithelial tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the methods of isolation, culture and identification of brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) in neuroepithelial tumor tissues in vitro, and to study the correlation between BTSCs and the patholorical grades of neuroepithelial tumors.


METHODS
Tumor cells from patients undergoing neuroepithelial tumors excision were acutely dissociated, triturated into single cells, and then seeded into serum-free medium. After the primary brain tumor spheres (BTSs) were generated, they were triturated again and passaged in fresh medium. The expression of Nestin and CD133 of BTSs was detected by immunocytochemistry staining, and the expression of CD133 of tumor specimen sections was detected by immunohistochemistry staining . The expression of CD133 of 46 brain tumors and 5 normal brain tissues were analysed by SABC immunohistochemical staining, and the correlation between the expression and pathological grade of the tumors was analysed.


RESULTS
BTSCs from neuroepithelial tumors could be isolated and cultured, and could be generated and passaged in vitro. The expression of Nestin and CD133 could be detected in BTSCs. CD133 could be detected in neuroepithelial tumor tissues, but not in normal brain tissues. There was significant difference between the expression of CD133 and the different grades of tumors (P < 0.01), and there was a positive correlation between the expression of CD133 and the histologic grading of tumors (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
A small proportion of stem cells have the ability to self-renew in human neuroepithelial tumors, and there is a positive correlation between the expression of CD133 and histologic grading of tumors.
Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. Robert_dyw@163.com
Yong-wen
YW
Deng
Jia-sheng
JS
Fang
Ming-chu
MC
Li
Feng-hua
FH
Chen
Xiang-yang
XY
Zhou
Jun
J
Wu
Ren-hui
RH
Zhou
Fang
F
Fang
Cheng
C
Chen
Ming
M
Lu
Fei-yue
FY
Zeng
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018302:Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D064231:Nestin; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides