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Research Paper | Oncology Science | Egypt | Volume 6 Issue 2, February 2017

Stem Cell Markers Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) & Cluster of Differentiation (CD44) Expression in Colon Cancer Patients in Relation to Prognosis and Survival

Lobna A. Abdelaziz ^[2] | Ola A. Megahed ^[2] | Ola A. Harb ^[2] | Loay M. Gertallah | Ahmed M. Sallam ^[2]

Abstract: Background - Worldwide, Colon cancer is the third & the second most common cancer in males & female respectively. Its recurrence, therapy resistance and metastasis remain causes of poor prognosis. The relationship between cancer stem cell (CSC) behavior and chemo-resistance to chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer is a recent point of researches that has taken attention. Identification of CSCs needed specific cell surface markers. CD44 had been the most frequently researched marker for colon CSCs. EpCAM is a cell surface molecule involved in cell to cell adhesion that is expressed in many epithelial carcinomas. Aim of the work - was to evaluate CSC markers EPCAM & CD44 expressions in colon carcinoma correlating their expressions with clinicopathological parameters and patients outcome. Patients and Methods The clinic-pathological correlations between CD44 & EpCAM expressions were assessed in specimens of colon carcinoma embedded in paraffin blocks and were taken from 50 patients, which we followed up for survival and prognosis. Results- CD 44 & EpCam positive expression was significantly correlated with the grade, stage, presence of lymph node, lymphovascular invasion (p<0.001 for all), distant metastases (p<0.001 & = 0.016 respectively), T stage (p= 0.027 & 0.003) respectively. Mean PFS was 27.41.5, median PFS was not reached.3-y PFS was 56 % which was significant with each one of CD44 & EpCam (P<0.001 for both). While, Mean OS was 30.51.2, median OS was not reached, 3-yOS was 64 % with significant association with each one of the markers (P=0.002 for both). Conclusion- we concluded that both CD44 & EpCam positive expressions would be useful poor prognostic markers for colon carcinoma patients.

Keywords: Stem cell markers, CD44, EpCam, colon cancer, survival

Edition: Volume 6 Issue 2, February 2017,

Pages: 994 - 1005

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