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Co-expression of cancer stem cells, tumor-associated macrophages predicted pancreatic cancer survival
High co-expression of CD44-positive/CD133-positive cancer stem cells and CD204-positive tumor-associated macrophages were associated with shorter survival among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, according to study results.
Researchers evaluated tissue microarrays from 96 patients to determine whether disease progression correlated with expression of cancer stem cell markers CD44 and CD33 and tumor-associated macrophages marker CD204.
In the entire cohort, median OS was 9.3 months, and 39% of patients achieved 1-year survival.
Thirty-one patients (32.3%) expressed high levels of CD44/CD133 and 39 patients (40.6%) expressed high levels of CD204.
Overall, levels of CD44/CD133 and CD204 were significantly higher in tumor tissues compared with normal tissues (P˂.0001). Also, researchers observed a positive correlation between CD44/CD133 and CD204 expression (P=.004).
High co-expression of CD44/CD133 (P=.000), high expression of CD204 (P=.011) and tumor grade (P=.014) each were associated with survival.
Patients with high co-expression of CD44/CD133 and CD204 demonstrated significantly shorter OS (P=.000) and DFS (P=.003).
High CD204 expression was independently associated with OS (P=.028) and DFS (P=.048); however, highCD44/CD133 expression was only associated with DFS (P=.015).
“The clinicopathologic significance of CD44/CD133 and CD204 expression is interrelated,” the researchers concluded. “Therefore, the combination of CD44/CD133 expression and CD204 expression is an ideal prognostic marker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.