CD133: a potential indicator for differentiation and prognosis of human cholangiocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

CD133 is known to be a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker. However, recent studies have revealed that CD133 is not restricted to CSC but to be expressed not only in human normal tissues but also in some cancers and could serve as a prognostic factor for the patients. Nevertheless, the expression of CD133 in human cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is rare and our study is to detect the expression and explore the potential functions of CD133 in human CC.

Methods

Fifty-nine cases, comprised of 5 normal liver tissues and 54 consecutive CC specimens (21 well-differentiated, 12 moderately-differentiated and 21 poorly-differentiated), were included in the study. Immunohistochemical stainning with CD133 protein was carried out, and statistical analyses were performed.

Results

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SUBMITTER: Fan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3161038 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature