Cancer stem cell markers CD44v9+/CD133- are associated with low apoptosis in both sporadic and ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancers

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate tumor cell behavior associated with cancer stem cell (CSC) marker expression, the expression of CD133, CD44v9, and ALDH1A1, which are considered markers of CSCs, was examined in sporadic and ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated colorectal tumors.

METHODS

A total of 23 cases of sporadic colorectal cancer and 44 cases of adenoma were collected. Additionally, 22 cancer lesions and 38 dysplasia lesions were selected from 28 colectomy cases of UC with neoplastic lesions. Lesions were examined by immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies against CD133, CD44v9, ALDH1A1, Ki-67, cleaved-Caspase 3, and p53.

RESULTS

CD133, CD44v9, and ALDH1A1 showed higher expression in both sporadic and UC-associated tumors than in the normal mucosa. ALDH1A1 expression in sporadic cancer was higher in the right colon than in the left colon (p=0.0089). ALDH1A1 expression in UC-associated cancer was higher in those with longer disease duration than in those with shorter disease duration (p=0.019). The CD44v9+/CD133- region had fewer cleaved-Caspase 3 positive cells in both sporadic and UC-associated cancers. In sporadic cancer, CD133+/ALDH1A1+ regions had fewer apoptotic cells than CD133+/ALDH1A1- regions, while CD133+/ALDH1A1- regions were less proliferative than CD133+/ALDH1A1+ regions in UC-associated cancer.

CONCLUSION

CD44+/CD133- regions were commonly associated with low apoptosis in sporadic and UC-associated cancers; thus, these were considered target areas for CSCs. Additionally, the combination of markers comprising CSCs may differ between sporadic and UC-associated cancers.

[A case report of pulmonary arterio-venous fistula complicated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasis]

A 5-year-old girl with multiple pulmonary arterio-venous fistulae was reported. Both her mother and grandmother have been diagnosed as the same disease previously. Her grandmother was treated with resection of the right basal segment for arterio-venous fistulae. Her mother is well with fistulae for more than 20 years. The patient was operated upon to enucleate two larger fistulae in segments 3 and 6 of right lung. Her postoperative course was uneventful. She was discharged from the hospital on the 22nd postoperative day. Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae are thought to be a part of the hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasis. Enucleation of the larger fistulae of the lung are preferable even for multiple lesions.

[Successful surgical treatment of infective endocarditis complicated with DIC and intracerebral hemorrhage]

This is a case report of a 61-year-old man, suffering from infective endocarditis of mitral valve in association with DIC and intracerebral hemorrhage. He was treated symptomatically and conservatively for 80 days after the onset of the DIC. His multiple cerebral hematomas gradually disappeared 2 months after conservative management. Then the diseased mitral valve was replaced with a Duromedics valve. He is doing well at present. In a review of the literature it appears that there is some room for surgical intervention in endocarditis despite the complication of coagulopathy. We feel that one of the most serious complications of infective endocarditis is DIC. Operative management of endocarditis with this complication is recommended to be followed by medical management.

[Emergency aortic valve replacement in active infective endocarditis in a chronically hemodialyzed patient]

A 36-year-old housewife, who had been treated with hemodialysis for 15 years is reported. She had suffered from active infective endocarditis of the aortic valve caused by blood access infection for several weeks. She rapidly fell into severe cardiac failure. Five days after the onset of the cardiac failure she was transferred to our hospital. The aortic valve was replaced using #21 Björk-Shiley aortic valve prosthesis shortly after the arrival to the hospital. Postoperatively she was treated with vigorous antibiotics and was anticoagulated. Seven months after the surgery, patient is back to an active life with hemodialysis 3 times a week.