Outcomes Associated With ABCG2 and CD133 Expression in Patients With Gastric Cancer After Surgical Resection

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Biomarkers

Background:

• Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) and CD133 are recognized stem cell markers in gastric cancer.
• Previous studies link these markers to clinical outcomes in various cancers, but their prognostic value in gastric cancer is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression of ABCG2 and CD133 in gastric cancer.
• To determine the relationship between the expression of these markers and clinical outcomes, including patient survival.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays were used to analyze ABCG2 and CD133 expression in 459 gastric cancer patient tumor samples.
• Expression levels were quantified and dichotomized.
• Associations between marker expression, disease severity, and patient survival were assessed using statistical analyses, including Cox regression.

Main Results:

• High expression of both ABCG2 (74.9%) and CD133 (80.5%) was frequently observed, particularly in well-differentiated and intestinal-type gastric lesions.
• High ABCG2 expression correlated with improved overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), while high CD133 expression was associated with poorer outcomes.
• Cox regression confirmed ABCG2 and CD133 expression, along with tumor stage, as significant predictors of survival. ABCG2 also improved RFS in patients receiving chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

• High ABCG2 expression and low CD133 expression in gastric tumors are associated with improved survival in post-resection patients.
• These findings suggest that ABCG2 and CD133 hold potential as prognostic biomarkers for gastric cancer.