title: CD 133+ and CXCR4+ colon cancer cells as a marker for lymph node metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) stem cells or tumor-initiating cells (Co-TIC) are implicated in both cancer recurrence and extranodal metastasis. CD133 and CXCR4 are specific cell surface markers that are indicators of Co-TIC. The presence of lymph node (LN) metastases is one of the strongest negative prognostic factors for CRC patients. We examined the relationship between the Co-TIC markers CD133 and CXCR4 and LN involvement in CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  CRC cells were isolated via enzymatic digestion. CD133(+), CXCR4(+), and double-positive CRC cells were detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. The percentages of CD133(+), CXCR4(+), and double-positive cells were identified and correlated to the number and percentage of positive LN on staging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven samples underwent fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. The mean percentage of CD133(+) cells was 3.94% (range 0.15%-19.06%). The mean percentage of CXCR4(+) cells was 6.15% (range 0%-27.11%). The mean percentage of CD133(+)CXCR4(+) cells was 0.45% (range 0%-2.08%). Thirteen patients had LN metastasis: 8 N1 disease and 5 N2 disease. The correlation coefficients between the percentage of Co-TIC marker-positive cells and percentage of positive LN were r = 0.58 (P = 0.0016) for CD133(+) cells, r = 0.36 (P = 0.5868) for CXCR4(+) cells, and r = 0.56 (P = 0.0022) for double-positive cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show CD133(+) and CD133(+)CXCR4(+) cancer cells correlate with the presence of LN metastasis in CRC. Further studies will examine whether these markers can give consistent prognostic information and may help to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silinsky
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Driscoll
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cordova
authors.forename: Nancy K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Margolin
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4
keywords: CD133; CXCL12; CXCR4; Co-TIC