CD44+ cancer cells express higher levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in breast tumours.
Breast tumours consist of phenotypically diverse populations of breast cancer cells of which only a minority has the ability to form new tumours. The capacity for breast tumour development has been shown to be restricted to breast cancer stem cells with the CD44+/CD24(-/low) phenotype. These cells can resist apoptosis through mechanisms such as the regulation of Bcl-2. Identification of this population of cells is important because of its implication in the development of new therapeutic strategies. One hundred and forty-six primary operable breast cancer patients were investigated in order to identify the population of CD44+ and Bcl-2+ cells in paraffin-embedded tissues by immunohistochemistry. The prevalence of these phenotypes was then correlated with clinicopathological features. CD44 and Bcl-2 expression was detected in 86% and 82% of breast tumours, respectively. There was no significant correlation between CD44+ tumour cell prevalence and tumour characteristics, whereas the prevalence of CD44+ cells was associated with higher levels of Bcl-2 expression (P = 0.004). In univariate analysis, Bcl-2 expression was correlated with breast tumours of lower grade (P < 0.001) and fewer lymphatic metastases (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the prevalence of CD44+ tumour cells as a subpopulation of breast cancer stem cells was of no clinicopathological significance, but was correlated with higher Bcl-2 expression. This population of tumour cells may thus be more resistant to apoptosis. Targeting these cells in combination with current treatments may be more effective in treating breast cancer patients.
Madjd
Zahra
Z
Department of Pathology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. zahra.madjd@yahoo.com
Mehrjerdi
Ali Zare
AZ
Sharifi
Ali Mohammad
AM
Molanaei
Saadat
S
Shahzadi
Shahriar Zohourian
SZ
Asadi-Lari
Mohsen
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2