Title: Co-expression of stem cell markers ALDH1 and CD44 in non-malignant and neoplastic lesions of the breast.
Abstract: Background/Aim: The Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) model proposes that cancer is driven by a cellular component which possesses stem cell (SC) properties, cancer stem cells (CSCs), a distinct cell-type which is tumorigenic and capable of invasion and metastasis. Enzymatic activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH1), a de-toxifying enzyme that oxidizes intracellular aldehydes, has been used as a marker of normal and malignant breast stem cells (BSCs). CD44-transmembrane protein has already been shown to possess the ability to identify breast epithelial cells with stem properties. Materials and Methods: In order to compare two of the currently most reliable BSCs markers, ALDH1 and CD44, and to correlate their expression within different breast lesions, 190 samples from breast cancer specimens were analyzed by tissue microarrays. Results: ALDH1 expression was observed in 85.43% and CD44 in 90.3% of all samples. No overexpression was observed for ALDH1 between invasive tumors, ductal carcinomas in situ and non-malignant lesions of breast, although ALDH1 had a significant negative correlation with estrogen-receptor (ER) and progesterone-receptor (PR) status (p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively) and a positive correlation with CD44 (p<0.001). Moreover, combined overexpression of ALDH1 and CD44 was observed in ductal in situ tumors (p<0.001). Conclusion: The combined overexpression of these markers in ductal carcinomas in situ is in agreement with the CSC model in breast cancer. Although the concept that cancer may arise from a small cell population with stem cell (SC) characteristics has been proposed since more than 150 years, new evidence has given an impetus to it through new advancements on SC research (1). According to the cancer stem cell (CSC) model, CSCs have the ability to maintain the growth and expansion of the tumor mass, and originate a differentiated cell population, with none or limited proliferation capacity (2), through de-regulation of
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-03-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 10
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot