title: Effect of CD133-positive stem cells in repeated recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: a case report.
abstract: Liver transplantation (LT) is currently one of the best available strategies for treating multiple hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and decompensated liver cirrhosis. However, patients often undergo HCC recurrence after LT, with most HCC recurrences detected at 1-2 years. CD133 was the first identified member of the prominin family of pentaspan membrane proteins and is a marker of hepatic stem cells. Here, we report a unique case of seven repeated recurrences of HCC in the lungs after LT, with all HCC recurrences resected curatively by a thoracoscopic approach. Pathological examination revealed moderately differentiated HCC identical to that in the original histology of the liver tumor. Interestingly, no CD133 immunoreactivity was observed in cancerous lesions of the primary HCC and the 1st to 2nd recurrences, as indicated by immunohistochemistry. However, CD133 was strongly stained in the cancerous lesions from the 3rd to 7th recurrences. The patient survived and had no recurrence after 9 years of the initial living donor LT. In conclusion, we investigated an evocative case of seven repeated recurrences of HCC in the lungs to elucidate the significance of circulating CD133-positive hepatic stem cells. This case illustrates the need for further research to clarify the mutual effect of CD133-positive hepatic stem cells for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Takeo
authors: T
authors: Toshima
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Tomoharu
authors: T
authors: Yoshizumi
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Hideaki
authors: H
authors: Uchiyama
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Ikegami
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Soejima
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Tetsuo
authors: T
authors: Ikeda
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Hirofumi
authors: H
authors: Kawanaka
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yo-Ichi
authors: Y
authors: Yamashita
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Morita
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Eiji
authors: E
authors: Oki
authors: Department of Surgery, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Koshi
authors: K
authors: Mimori
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Keishi
authors: K
authors: Sugimachi
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Saeki
authors: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kumamoto University, Japan.
authors: Masayuki
authors: M
authors: Watanabe
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Shirabe
authors: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yoshihiko
authors: Y
authors: Maehara
mesh_terms: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides