Aberrant expression of CD133 in non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship to vasculogenic mimicry

• Published in: BMC cancer Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 535
• Main Authors: Wu, Shiwu, Yu, Lan, Wang, Danna, Zhou, Lei, Cheng, Zenong, Chai, Damin, Ma, Li, Tao, Yisheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 21.11.2012; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: AC133 Antigen; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Angiogenesis; Antigens, CD - biosynthesis; Biological markers; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - blood supply; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - metabolism; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Female; Glycoproteins - biosynthesis; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lung - blood supply; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Lung cancer; Lung cancer, Non-small cell; Lung cancer, Small cell; Lung Neoplasms - blood supply; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Staging; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology; Pathology; Peptides; Prognosis; Radiation therapy; Respiratory system; Studies; Survival Analysis; Tumors; Young Adult; China
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-535

To investigate on expressions and clinical significances of CD133 protein and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The specimens of NSCLC from 305 Chinese patients with follow-up were analyzed for CD133 protein expression and VM by immunohistochemical and histochemical staining. In NSCLC, positive rates of 48.9% and 35.7% were obtained for CD133 and VM, respectively. The VM and expression of CD133 were significantly higher in carcinoma than in normal. There were a positive relationship between the VM and expression of CD133 and the tumor grade, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (all P<0.05). The overall mean survival time of the patients with CD133 and VM positive expression was lower than that of patients with negative expression. Microvessel density (MVD) was positive corresponded with the grade, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (all P<0.05). The overall mean survival time of the patients with MVD≥22's group was shorter than that of patients with MVD<22's group. Pathological-tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage, positive expression of CD133 and VM, postoperative therapy and MVD were independent prognostic factors of NSCLC (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed an important intratumoral heterogeneity in all four CD133 expression profiles. VM, MVD and expression of CD133 are related to differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and prognosis. It is suggested that CD133, VM and MVD should be considered as a potential marker for the prognosis.