Comparative expression analysis of putative cancer stem cell markers CD44 and ALDH1A1 in various skin cancer subtypes

Elham Erfani; Raheleh Roudi; Azadeh Rakhshan; Mehrdad Nasrollahzadeh Sabet; Ahmad Shariftabrizi; Zahra Madjd

doi:10.5301/jbm.5000165

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Comparative expression analysis of putative cancer stem cell markers CD44 and ALDH1A1 in various skin cancer subtypes

Journal article

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Comparative expression analysis of putative cancer stem cell markers CD44 and ALDH1A1 in various skin cancer subtypes

Elham Erfani, Raheleh Roudi, Azadeh Rakhshan, Mehrdad Nasrollahzadeh Sabet, Ahmad Shariftabrizi and Zahra Madjd

The International journal of biological markers, Vol.31(1), pp.E53-E61

01/01/2016

DOI: 10.5301/jbm.5000165

PMID: 26391478

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Abstract

Introduction: Skin cancers, particularly melanoma, are initiated and maintained by a subpopulation of tumor cells expressing stemness markers that are called cancer stem cells (CSCs). This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels and clinicopathological significance of the putative CSC markers CD44 and ALDH1A1 in patients with skin cancer. Methods: The expression levels of CD44 and ALDH1A1 were investigated in 107 skin cancer specimens including 58 (54%) basal cell carcinomas (BCC), 37 (35%) squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and 12 (11%) melanomas using the tissue microarray (TMA) technique. The correlation of the expression levels of these markers and clinicopathological parameters was then analyzed. Results: The expression levels of CD44 and ALDH1A1 were significantly higher in melanoma patients than patients with SCC or BCC (p<0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). A higher level of CD44 expression was more often found in melanoma tumor cells with a higher rate of recurrence (p = 0.029) and in SCC cases with ulceration (p = 0.01), while there was no significant correlation between ALDH1A1 expression and other clinicopathological parameters. Similarly, coexpression of CD44 and ALDH1A1 (CD44(high)/ALDH1A1(high)) was significantly observed in melanoma samples (p<0.001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that a CD44high/ALDH1A1high phenotype in melanoma and a CD44(high) phenotype in SCC can be considered candidates for targeted therapy of skin cancers aiming at CSCs.

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Oncology

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Comparative expression analysis of putative cancer stem cell markers CD44 and ALDH1A1 in various skin cancer subtypes
Creators: Elham Erfani - Iran University of Medical Sciences
Raheleh Roudi - Iran University of Medical Sciences
Azadeh Rakhshan - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Mehrdad Nasrollahzadeh Sabet - Iran University of Medical Sciences
Ahmad Shariftabrizi - University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Zahra Madjd - Iran University of Medical Sciences
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The International journal of biological markers, Vol.31(1), pp.E53-E61
DOI: 10.5301/jbm.5000165
PMID: 26391478
NLM abbreviation: Int J Biol Markers
ISSN: 0393-6155
eISSN: 1724-6008
Publisher: Sage
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: 12417-12-04-89 / Iran University of Medical Sciences
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2016
Academic Unit: Radiology
Record Identifier: 9984318801402771

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