Prevalence of CD44+/CD24-/low cells in breast cancer may not be associated with clinical outcome but may favor distant metastasis

Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Feb 1;11(3):1154-9.

Abstract

Purpose: Breast cancer is composed of phenotypically diverse populations of cancer cells. The ability to form breast tumors has been shown by in vitro/in vivo studies to be restricted to epithelial tumor cells with CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) characteristics. Validation of these findings with respect to detection in clinical samples, prognosis, and clinical relevance is in demand.

Experimental design: We investigated breast cancer tissues for the prevalence of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells and their prognostic value. The study included paraffin-embedded tissues of 136 patients with and without recurrences. In addition, a breast cancer progression array with normal, carcinoma in situ, and carcinoma tissues was analyzed. We applied double-staining immunohistochemistry for the detection of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) cells. Evaluation was by microscopic pathologic inspection and automated image analysis.

Results: CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) cells ranged from 0% to 40% in normal breast and from 0% to 80% in breast tumor tissues. The prevalence of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells in 122 tumors was < or =10% in the majority (78%) of cases and >10% in the remainder. There was no significant correlation between CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cell prevalence and tumor progression. Although recurrences of tumors with high percentages of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells were mainly distant, preferably osseous metastasis, there was no correlation with the event-free and overall survival. There was no influence on the response to different treatment modalities.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the prevalence of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells in breast cancer may not be associated with clinical outcome and survival but may favor distant metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anthracyclines / administration & dosage
  • Antigens, CD / analysis*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • CD24 Antigen
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / analysis*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / analysis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • Antigens, CD
  • CD24 Antigen
  • CD24 protein, human
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Tamoxifen