title: CD44/CD24 as potential prognostic markers in node-positive invasive ductal breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.
abstract: The hypothesis on cancer stem cells assumes the existence of small subpopulation of cells that possess the ability to undergo self-renewal and can give rise to the diversity of differentiated cells that form the tumour. It has been accepted that CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) phenotype is one of the features characterizing breast cancer stem cells. The aim of our study was to assess (1) prognostic significance of CD44/CD24 expression as well as (2) a relation between the above-mentioned phenotype and breast cancer subtypes [based on estrogen (ER), progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and Ki67 status] and expression of selected markers such as fascin, laminin-5 gamma-2 chain, cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and 8/18, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), smooth muscle actin, P-cadherin and lymphocytic infiltration in invasive ductal breast cancer patients (T ≥ 1, N ≥ 1, M0), who underwent mastectomy followed by chemotherapy (with taxanes and/or anthracyclines) or/and hormonotherapy. We noted that most cancers with CD44-/CD24- and CD44-/CD24+ phenotype were ER positive. The majority of CD44-/CD24-, CD44-/CD24+ and CD44+/CD24- tumours were characterized by CK5/6 and EGFR negativity. In univariate analysis we demonstrated that patients with pN1/pN2 and with CD44 +/CD24- carcinomas had significantly lower risk of progression or cancer-related death than those with pN3 or tumours characterised by other CD44/CD24 expression patterns. We also found 100 % DFS in 12 patients with CD44+/CD24-/CK5/6+/ER- phenotype. Other analysed parameters were insignificant. We conclude that tumours with immunophenotypes: CD44+/CD24- and CD44+/CD24-/CK5/6+/ER- might be more sensitive for chemotherapy based on taxanes and/or anthracyclines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Radiobiology, Centre of Oncology, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Institute, Cracow Branch, Garncarska 11, 31-115, Kraków, Poland, aa.adamczyk@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adamczyk
authors.forename: Joanna A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Niemiec
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambicka
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mucha-Małecka
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mituś
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryś
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C020324:fascin