International Journal of Cancer Research1811-97271811-9735Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/ijcr.2014.65.73H. MansourAmany R. ElkhodaryTawfik AnwarRokia HabeebMaha Ragab MohammedMohammed Amin 22014102Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the major form of primary liver cancer and
the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. HCC is frequently diagnosed
at an advanced stage, resulting in rather poor survival rates. CD133, a trans-membrane
glycoprotein, is an important cell surface marker for both stem cells and Cancer
Stem Cells (CSCs) in various tissues including the liver. CD133 has been used
as the Tumor Initiating Cells (TICs) marker in HCC. Further identification and
characterization of CSCs or TICs in HCC are necessary to better understand hepatic
carcinogenesis. So, the objective of this study was to estimate the level of
the specific markers as CD133 and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)
in HCC. Fifty peripheral blood samples were collected from HCC patients. The
CD133 protein expression was analyzed by flow cytometry and TGF-β levels
were assayed by ELISA. This study revealed a higher expression of CD133+cells
in all HCC patients. The expression of CD133+cells was positively correlated
with clinical, pathological and laboratory parameters. A mild to moderate positive
correlation was found with tumor size, male gender, pathological grade, Hepatitis
C virus and Alpha-fetoprotein and showed a strong positive correlation between
age, TGF-β, Lymph node metastasis, portal vein tumor thrombosis and CD133+cells
in peripheral blood. CD133+cells might represent true CSCs in HCC which could
allow a better understanding of HCC initiation and progression, as well as possibly
bear great therapeutic implications. Moreover, the multifunctional cytokine
TGF-β plays a crucial role in the regulation of CD133 expression in HCC.]]>Abou-Shady, M., H.U. Baer, H. Friess, P. Berberat and A. Zimmermann et al.,1999177209215Ailles, L.E. and I.L. Weissman,200718460466Bissell, D.M.,200133179190Coulouarn, C., V.M. Factor and S.S. Thorgeirsson,20084720592067Durnez, A., C. Verslype, F. Nevens, J. Fevery and R. Aerts et al.,200649138151Fausto, N.,20043914771487Galliher, A.J., J.R. Neil and W.P. Schiemann,20062743763Gurtsevitch, V.E.,200873504513Haraguchi, N., H. Ishii, K. Mimori, F. Tanaka and M. Ohkuma et al.,201012033263339Lee, D., Y.H. Chung, J.A. Kim, Y.S. Lee and D. Lee et al.,2012821118Lee, T.K.W., A. Castilho, S. Ma and I.O.L. Ng,200929955965Libbrecht, L., R. De Vos, D. Cassiman, V. Desmet, R. Aerts and T. Roskams,20012513881396Llovet, J.M., A. Burroughs and J. Bruix,200336219071917Matsuura, Y., H. Yagi, S. Matsuda, O. Itano and K. Aiura et al.,2010466572Matsuzaki, K., M. Date, F. Furukawa, Y. Tahashi and M. Matsushita et al.,20006013941402Mishra, L., T. Banker, J. Murray, S. Byers and A. Thenappan et al.,200949318329Neuzillet, C., A. de Gramont, A. Tijeras-Raballand, L. de Mestier, J. Cros, S. Faivre and E. Raymond,201357894Park, S. J., C.E. Freise, R. Hirose, R.K. Kerlan, F.Y. Yao, J.P. Roberts and P.A. Vagefi,201226E359E364Robrechts, C., R. Vos, M. Heuvel, E. Cutsem, B. Damme, V. Desmet and T. Roskams,199818288293Song, W., H. Li, K. Tao, R. Li and Z. Song et al.,20086212121218Tang, Y., K. Kitisin, W. Jogunoori, C. Li and C.X. Deng et al.,200810524452450Tong, C.M., S. Ma and X.Y. Guan,20112612291237Wen, L., X.Z. Chen, K. Yang, Z.X. Chen and B. Zhang et al.,20132013Yamashita, T., M. Honda, K. Nio, Y. Nakamoto and T. Yamashita et al.,20107046874697Yamashita, T., J. Ji, A. Budhu, M. Forgues and W. Yang et al.,200913610121024Yang, G.H., J. Fan, Y. Xu, S.J. Qiu and X.R. Yang et al.,20081311551165Yin, S., J. Li, C. Hu, X. Chen and M. Yao et al.,200712014441450Yuen, M.F., S. Norris, L.W. Evans, P.G. Langley and R.D. Hughes,200237233238Zhang, B., S.K. Halder, N.D. Kashikar, Y.J. Cho, A. Datta, D.L. Gorden and P.K. Datta,2010138969980Zhu, Z., X. Hao, M. Yan, M. Yao, C. Ge, J. Gu and J. Li,2010+ CD44+ population in hepatocellular carcinoma.]]>12620672078Daw, M.A., M.A. Elkaber, A.M. Drah, M.M. Werfalli, A.A. Mihat and I.M. Siala,20022313561360Saab, S., P. Martin, M. Brezina, G. Gitnick and H.F. Yee Jr.,200137308315WMA.,20132013Sobin, L.H. and C.H. Wittekind,20026th Edn.,Edmondson, H.A. and P.E. Steiner,19547462503El-Serag, H.B.,2001587107