Abstract
BackgroundIt has been reported that CD63, an exosome marker, is expressed in solid cancer tissues. However, its significance in patients with gastric cancer has not been clarified. Exosomes derived from cancer cells and stromal cells might play an important role in the intracellular communications involved in the development of carcinoma. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between CD63 expression in cancer cells and stromal cells and clinical-pathologic factors.MethodsA total of 595 gastric cancer patients were enrolled in this study. CD63 expression in cancer cells and stromal cells was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The correlations between CD63 expression and several clinicopathological factors were investigated.ResultsCD63 expression was mainly observed on the cell membranes of cancer cells, and in the cytoplasm of stromal cells. Of 595 patients, 247 cases had CD63-positive cancer cells, and 107 cases had CD63-positive stromal cells. Cases with CD63-positive cancer cells were significantly correlated with scirrhous-type gastric cancer, tumor depth, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and tumor size. Cases with CD63-positive stromal cells were significantly correlated with age (≥65), tumor depth (T3-4), lymphatic invasion, and tumor size (≥ 5 cm). The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower (p<0.001) in patients with CD63-positive than CD63-negative tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that CD63 expression in cancer cells was a significant independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer.ConclusionCD63 might be a prognostic marker for patients with gastric cancer. CD63-positive exosomes might be associated with the interaction between stromal cells and cancer cells.
Highlights
It has been reported that exosomes from cancer cells might be associated with intracellular communications involved in the development of the tumor microenvironment, such as metastatic niche formation and angiogenesis, resulting in the progression of carcinoma [1,2,3,4].Exosomes are small membrane vesicles (30–150 nm) containing functional molecules, and they can be horizontally transferred to the surrounding cells[5]
CD63 expression was mainly observed on the cell membranes of cancer cells, and in the cytoplasm of stromal cells
Multivariate analysis showed that CD63 expression in cancer cells was a significant independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer
Summary
It has been reported that exosomes from cancer cells might be associated with intracellular communications involved in the development of the tumor microenvironment, such as metastatic niche formation and angiogenesis, resulting in the progression of carcinoma [1,2,3,4].Exosomes are small membrane vesicles (30–150 nm) containing functional molecules, and they can be horizontally transferred to the surrounding cells[5]. It has been reported that exosomes from cancer cells might be associated with intracellular communications involved in the development of the tumor microenvironment, such as metastatic niche formation and angiogenesis, resulting in the progression of carcinoma [1,2,3,4]. The object of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of CD63 expression in cancer cells and stromal cells in patients with gastric cancer. Its significance in patients with gastric cancer has not been clarified. Exosomes derived from cancer cells and stromal cells might play an important role in the intracellular communications involved in the development of carcinoma. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between CD63 expression in cancer cells and stromal cells and clinical-pathologic factors
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