title: Aberrant expression of CD133 in non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship to vasculogenic mimicry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate on expressions and clinical significances of CD133 protein and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The specimens of NSCLC from 305 Chinese patients with follow-up were analyzed for CD133 protein expression and VM by immunohistochemical and histochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In NSCLC, positive rates of 48.9% and 35.7% were obtained for CD133 and VM, respectively. The VM and expression of CD133 were significantly higher in carcinoma than in normal. There were a positive relationship between the VM and expression of CD133 and the tumor grade, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (all P<0.05). The overall mean survival time of the patients with CD133 and VM positive expression was lower than that of patients with negative expression. Microvessel density (MVD) was positive corresponded with the grade, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (all P<0.05). The overall mean survival time of the patients with MVD≥22's group was shorter than that of patients with MVD<22's group. Pathological-tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage, positive expression of CD133 and VM, postoperative therapy and MVD were independent prognostic factors of NSCLC (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed an important intratumoral heterogeneity in all four CD133 expression profiles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VM, MVD and expression of CD133 are related to differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and prognosis. It is suggested that CD133, VM and MVD should be considered as a potential marker for the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233000, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Shiwu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Danna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zenong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Damin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides