title: Expression of the Cancer Stem Cell Markers CD44 and CD133 in Colorectal Cancer: An Immunohistochemical Staining Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the expressions of CD44 and CD133 in colorectal cancer tissue by using immunohistochemical staining and to analyze the clinical significance of the expressions related to other clinicopathological data and survival results.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixty-two patients with a biopsy-proven colorectal adenocarcinoma who were operated on between January 1998 and August 2004 were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical staining for CD44 and CD133 was performed on primary colorectal cancer tissue, metastatic lymph nodes, and synchronous and metachronous metastatic tumor tissues if available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD44 expression was stronger in the primary tumor than in metastatic lymph nodes (P < 0.001), and CD133 expression tended to be stronger in primary tumor than in metastatic lymph nodes (P = 0.057). No significant correlation was found between the CD44 and the CD133 expressions. The cases with recurrence showed low expression of CD44 (P = 0.017). CD133 expression was lower in cases with elevated CA 19-9 serum levels (P = 0.028) and advanced T stage (P = 0.038). Multivariate analysis proved that low expression of CD44 was an independent prognosis factor for short disease-free survival (P = 0.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low CD44 expression was correlated with increased tumor recurrence and short disease-free survival, and low CD133 expression was associated with advanced tumor stage. We suggest that further studies be performed to evaluate whether the immunohistochemical method for determining the CD44 and the CD133 expressions is appropriate for exploring cancer stem-cell biology in patients with colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Injae
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo Goo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byungmo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: You Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In Wook
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyucksang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: CD133 antigen; CD40 antigens; Colorectal neoplasms; Stem cell