title: Clinical significance of putative cancer stem cell marker CD44 in different histological subtypes of lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to the cancer stem cell theory, tumors originate from a subset of cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for tumor initiation, resistance and relapse. CD44 is a cell adhesion molecule that can aid in the identification of CSCs in various malignancies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the expression level and clinical significance of CD44 in lung cancer samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ninety-five lung tumor samples including 74 (38%) squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 61 (31%) adenocarcinomas (ADC), 23 (12%) large cell carcinoma (LCC) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) group and 37 (19%) small cell lung cancer (SCLC) samples were examined for the expression of CD44 using immunohistochemistry method. The correlation of CD44 expression with clinicopathological parameters as well as Ki-67 status was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analysis demonstrated that CD44 expression was significantly higher in NSCLC compared to SCLC (P < 0.001). Among NSCLC, higher level of CD44 expression was found in SCC compared to ADC (P< 0.001) and LCC (P=0.046). Increased expression of CD44 was significantly correlated with higher grade tumors which correspond to poor prognosis in SCC (P=0.012) and the lower level of CD44 expression was more often found in well differentiated ADC tumors (P=0.03). In addition, high expression of CD44 was significantly associated with decreased level of proliferative marker Ki-67 (P=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD44 could be a valuable tool for the study of lung CSCs and provide a novel therapeutic target for treatment of the patients with lung cancer in combination with conventional therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Raheleh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Pathology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Madjd
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korourian
authors.affiliation: Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Pathology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrazma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Milad Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saadat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molanae
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad Nasrollahzadeh
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sabet
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shariftabrizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors
keywords: CD44; Cancer stem cells; Ki-67; non-small cell lung cancer; small cell lung cancer