Expression of Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Human Gastric Cancer

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2008;8(2):108-113.
Published online December 10, 2008.

위암 세포에서 고형암 줄기세포 표지자들의 발현

정인두ㆍ정석원ㆍ방성조ㆍ신정우ㆍ박능화ㆍ이지혜*ㆍ김도하

울산대학교 의과대학 울산대학교병원 내과학교실, 생의과학연구소*

Abstract

Background/Aims
The study of cancer stem cell markers may be critical to furthering our understanding of carcinogenesis and for control of cancer. However, it is rare in solid tumors. We investigated the expression of candidate stem cell markers in human gastric cancer. Methods: CD24, CD44, hiwi, and CD133 were selected as candidate stem cell marker genes. We used 8 gastric cancer cell lines and fresh gastric cancer tissues. The PCR amplification and real-time PCR were done. Results: Hiwi was expressed in all cell lines. However, CD133 was expressed only in two cell lines. CD24 and CD44 were expressed in all differentiated and about half of undifferentiated cancer cell lines. CD24 and CD44 mRNA expressions were increased in differentiated cell lines compared with undifferentiated by real-time PCR but statistically significant in CD24 only. There was no difference of CD24, CD44, and hiwi mRNA levels between 15 gastric cancer tissues and paired normal mucosal tissue by real-time PCR. Conclusions: PCR data shows that solid cancer stem cell markers were expressed in human gastric cancer cell lines. However, that was very conflicting result in human gastric cancer tissues. So further studies including normal gastric cell lines and more tissue samples are needed. (The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2008;8:108-113)

Key Words: Stomach neoplasm, Tumor stem cell, Genetic marker