Morphology and distribution of EpCAMhigh/CD44+ colorectal cancer stem cells / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem cells have bean a hot topic in life science research. EpCAMhigh/CD44+ colorectal cancer stem cells are beneficial to observe morphological characteristics and distribution of cancer stem cells.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quantity, location, distribution and hematoxylin-easin staining morphologic features of colorectal cancer stem cells (Co-CSCs).DESIGN, "rIME AND SETrlNG The observational study was performed at the Department of Pathology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from March to August 2008.MATERIALS A total of 67 colorectal cancer paraffin embedding samples were collected from 200512007 archive at the Department of Pathology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, comprising 27 males and 40 females, aged 29 90 years.METHODS: EpCAM and CD44 was used to label cancer stem cells in paraffin embedding colorectal cancer samples. The locations of EpCAM and CD44 double positive cells were detected by SP(streptavidin HRP) immunohistochemical staining and double immunohistochemical staining. The morphologic features of them were investigated on hematoxylin-easin staining at the same position.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number, location, distribution of EpCAM and CD44-posltive cells, and morphology following hematoxylin-eosin staining.RESULTS: The number of double-positive cells accounted for 0.1% to 30.0% of all tumor cells, and the cells were scattered or distributed focally along the basement of glandular-like structure. The cells with scarcely cytoplasm were cube or oval, and its nucleus was oval or high cylindrical, deep stained and homogeneous; The quantity of double-positive cells were negatively correlated with the differentiation of colorectal cancer.CONCLUSION: Cancer stem cells are the causes of tumor development, metastasis and recurrence and drug resistance. To observe the number, location, distribution and morphology of Co-CSCs and to analyze the relationship between Co-CSCs and pathological parameters will provide guidance for the diagnosis, staging, prognostic evaluation and clinical prognosis of cotorectal carcinoma.