Prognostic significance of CD133 and ABCB5 expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Expression of CD133 and ABCB5 is associated with tumor aggressiveness, but evidence in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is lacking. We correlated CD133 and ABCB5 expression with pathological characteristics and factors of worse prognosis in PTC. Samples of 119 PTCs and 40 controls (goiters) were distributed in 8 tissue microarray blocks and evaluated with immunohistochemistry using anti-CD133 and anti-ABCB5 antibodies. The expression of each marker alone and combined was analyzed against pathological characteristics and factors of worse prognosis in PTC. Expression of CD133 alone (19 tumors, 16.0%) was more frequent in patients with versus without lymph node metastases (P=0.024). Expression of ABCB5 alone (n=95, 83.3%) was associated with larger tumor size (P=0.045). CD133-ABCB5 coexpression was not associated with pathological characteristics or factors of worse prognosis in PTC.

Figure 1.

Immunohistochemical features of CD133 and ABCB5 in goiter and papillary carcinoma. A-D) Representative photomicrographs of goiter and papillary carcinoma, including (A) negative CD133 expression (arrow) in goiter; B) weak ABCB5 cytoplasmic expression (arrow) in goiter; C) weak CD133 cytoplasmic expression (arrow) in papillary carcinoma, and (D) strong ABCB5 cytoplasmic and membrane positivity (arrow) in papillary carcinoma.