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Nuclear CD133 expression predicts poor prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma
Gui-Fang Yu1,2,3, Xian Lin1,2, Rong-Cheng Luo1,2
1Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology
|January 16, 2020
Summary
Nuclear CD133 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) indicates poor prognosis. This cancer stem cell marker is elevated in tumors and its nuclear presence correlates with larger tumor size and shorter survival, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence, metastasis, and poor prognosis.
- CD133 is a widely recognized marker for CSCs.
- Understanding CD133's role in HCC is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of CD133 mRNA and protein in HCC.
- To evaluate the biological significance and prognostic value of CD133, particularly its nuclear distribution, in HCC patients.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatics analysis to assess CD133 mRNA levels in HCC versus non-cancerous tissues.
- Immunohistochemical analysis to determine CD133 protein expression and localization (cytoplasmic vs. nuclear).
- Statistical analysis including survival analysis (Log-Rank test) and prognostic factor assessment (Cox regression).
Main Results:
- Both CD133 mRNA and protein levels were significantly elevated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues (P < 0.01).
- Nuclear CD133 expression was identified and significantly associated with poorer patient prognosis (median survival 12 months vs. 34.5 months, P = 0.0258).
- Nuclear CD133 expression correlated positively with tumor size and emerged as an independent prognostic factor for HCC post-surgery (P = 0.057).
Conclusions:
- Elevated CD133 expression is a feature of HCC.
- Nuclear localization of CD133 is a significant indicator of poor prognosis in HCC patients.
- Nuclear CD133 holds potential as a valuable biomarker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
