CD117 expression in fibroblasts-like stromal cells indicates unfavorable clinical outcomes in ovarian carcinoma patients.
The stem cell factor (SCF) receptor CD117 (c-kit), is widely used for identification of hematopoietic stem cells and cancer stem cells. Moreover, CD117 expression in carcinoma cells indicates a poor prognosis in a variety of cancers. However the potential expression in tumor microenvironment and the biological and clinical impact are currently not reported. The expression of CD117 was immunohistochemically evaluated in a serial of 242 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cases. Thirty-eight out of 242 cases were CD117 positive in fibroblast-like stromal cells and 22 cases were positive in EOC cells. Four cases were both positive in fibroblast-like stromal cells and EOC cells for CD117. CD117 expression in fibroblast-like stromal cells in ovarian carcinoma was closely linked to advanced FIGO stage, poor differentiation grade and histological subtype (p<0.05), and it was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) (Kaplan-Meier analysis; p<0.05, log-rank test). CD117 expression in ovarian carcinoma cells was not associated with these clinicopathological variables. The CD117 positive fibroblast-like stromal cells were all positive for mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) marker CD73 but negative for fibroblast markers fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), indicating that the CD117+/CD73+ fibroblast-like stromal cells are a subtype of mesenchymal stem cells in tumor stroma, although further characterization of these cells are needed. It is concluded herewith that the presence of CD117+/CD73+ fibroblast-like stromal cells in ovarian carcinoma is an unfavorable clinical outcome indication.
Departments of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pathology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Ruixia
R
Huang
Department of Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Medical College of Shanghai, Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
Dan
D
Wu
Department of Pathology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Yuan
Y
Yuan
Departments of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pathology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Xiaoran
X
Li
Departments of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Ruth
R
Holm
Department of Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Gynecology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Claes G
CG
Trope
Departments of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pathology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Jahn M
JM
Nesland
Departments of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pathology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Zhenhe
Z
Suo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit