Abstract 3361: Immunohistochemical analysis of CD133/44 expression in surgical specimens of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE: Both CD133 and CD44 have been reported as putative markers for cancer-initiating cell in various malignancies such as colon, prostate and pancreatic cancers. No immunohistochemical analysis correlated with clinicopathological outcome have been reported in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. We evaluated the values of CD133/44 as markers for prognosis and chemoresistance in the patients with esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of CD133/44 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in a series of 58 surgical specimens of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: 2 courses of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. Immunopositive cells were counted from 10 fields in the representative section and expressed as a percentage. The specimen with necrosis or disappearance of the tumor cells in more than 1/3 of the whole lesion was determined as positive histological response specimen. RESULTS: CD133 expression (positive cells: 0% <) was detected in 47 of 58 patients (81%). Overall survival of the CD133 positive patients was significantly poorer than CD133 negative patients (3-year survival: 43% vs 91%, P=0.012). Disease free survival of the CD133 positive patients was also significantly poorer than CD133 negative patients (3-year relapse free survival: 31% vs 73%, P=0.031). Histological response rate in the CD133 positive patients was significantly lower than that in the CD133 negative patients (17% vs 64%, P=0.004). CD44 expression was detected in all patients, and the rate of positive cells in each tumor was 100% in all patients. CONCLUSION: CD133 expression can be a prognostic marker and also a marker for chemoresistance of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. CD44 expression is not a marker for any clinicopathological outcome in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3361.