Expression of CD133, CD24, CD44 in Cutaneous Malignant Tumors / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Based on the unlimited proliferative and self-renewel properties of cancer cells similar to those of stem cells, the idea that cancer may originate from stem cells has been suggested in many different studies and has given rise to cancer stem cell hypothesis. CD133, being normally expressed on the surface of hematopoietic stem cells, has recently been suggested as a marker of cancer stem cells in several malignancies. CD24 and CD44 are membrane proteins reported as markers of various neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of the CD24, CD44 and CD133 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and malignant melanoma (MM). METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical staining for CD24, CD44 and CD133 using 18 skin cancer tissue samples, including 6 SCCs, 6 BCCs and 6 MMs. The expression of each marker was standardized by the histochemical score (HSCORE). RESULTS: The expression of CD24 showed positive in 1 case of 6 SCCs (mean HSCORE, H; 0.02) and showed negative in 6 BCCs (H; 0.00), 6 MMs (H; 0.00). The expression of CD44 was not observed in 6 SCCs (H; 0.00) but observed in 1 case of 6 BCCs (H; 0.04) and 1 case of 6 MMs (H; 0.03). The expression of CD133 showed positive in 2 cases of 6 SCCs (H; 1.21) and 1 case of 6 BCCs (H; 0.05) and 6 cases of 6 MMs (H; 2.78). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that CD133 may be a reliable marker of which the higher expression is observed in the more invasive skin cancers and that the existence of cancer stem cells may enhance tumorigenic potential in cutaneous malignant tumors.