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Basic Science
Molecular Portraits of Heterogeneity Related to Cancer Stem Cells in Human Ovarian Cancer
  1. Jianfang Zeng, PhD*,
  2. Jie Ruan, MD*,†,
  3. Lijing Luo, PhD*,‡,
  4. Jie Shi, MD§,
  5. Quancai Cui, MD§,
  6. Jiaxin Yang, MD* and
  7. Keng Shen, MD*
  1. *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing;
  2. †Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Huaxi Medical University, Chengdu;
  3. ‡Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University; and
  4. §Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Keng Shen, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1st Shuai Fu Yuan, Wang Fu Jing, Dong Cheng District, Beijing 100730, China. E-mail: sk_shenkeng{at}163.com, shenkeng{at}vip.sina.com.

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate molecular portraits of heterogeneity related to cancer stem cells (CSCs) in human ovarian cancer and to access the value in diagnosis and treatment.

Methods Sixty specimens were collected in both cytoreductive and re-cytoreductive surgeries of 20 serous papillary ovarian adenocarcinoma cases. Expression density and distribution of 3 CSC markers (CD44, CD133, and CD117) and 3 stemness proteins (Bmi1, Nestin, and Oct3/4) were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Pairwise comparisons were performed among their expression in primary, metastasis, and relapsing tumors.

Results Some molecules presented different localization in 1 tissue, like CD133 and CD117, and all but Oct3/4 expressed differentially in different specimens of 1 case. Compared to primary or metastatic cancers, recurrent cancers show higher expression of CD133, CD117, and Bmi1, as well as higher histological grades.

Conclusions Our study indicated that there exist extratumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity in ovarian epithelial cancers related to CSCs. And this is worth further studying.

  • Ovarian cancer stem cell
  • Heterogeneity
  • CD117
  • Bmi1
  • Recurrence

https://doi.org/10.1097/IGC.0000000000000024

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    Footnotes

    • Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30873011).

    • The authors declare no conflicts of interest.