BackgroundTo investigate on expressions and clinical significances of CD133 protein and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe specimens of NSCLC from 305 Chinese patients with follow-up were analyzed for CD133 protein expression and VM by immunohistochemical and histochemical staining.ResultsIn NSCLC, positive rates of 48.9% and 35.7% were obtained for CD133 and VM, respectively. The VM and expression of CD133 were significantly higher in carcinoma than in normal. There were a positive relationship between the VM and expression of CD133 and the tumor grade, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (all P<0.05). The overall mean survival time of the patients with CD133 and VM positive expression was lower than that of patients with negative expression. Microvessel density (MVD) was positive corresponded with the grade, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (all P<0.05). The overall mean survival time of the patients with MVD≥22’s group was shorter than that of patients with MVD<22’s group. Pathological-tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage, positive expression of CD133 and VM, postoperative therapy and MVD were independent prognostic factors of NSCLC (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed an important intratumoral heterogeneity in all four CD133 expression profiles.ConclusionsVM, MVD and expression of CD133 are related to differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and prognosis. It is suggested that CD133, VM and MVD should be considered as a potential marker for the prognosis.

BackgroundRecurrence and metastasis are the usual manifestations of treatment failure of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Vasculogenic mimicry (VM; blood supply development often seen in highly aggressive cancers), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1, cancer stem cell biomarker), KiSS-1 (suppressor of tumor metastasis), and metastasis associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) are all useful predictive factors for metastasis and prognosis in various cancers. In this study, we analyzed associations among VM, ALDH1, KiSS-1, and MACC1 in EOC, and their respective correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and survival in EOC.MethodsPositive rates of VM, ALDH1, KiSS-1, and MACC1 in 207 whole EOC tissue samples were detected by immunohistochemistry. Patients’ clinical data were also collected.ResultsLevels of VM, ALDH1, and MACC1 were significantly higher, and levels of KiSS-1 significantly lower, in EOC tissues than in benign ovary tumors. Levels of VM, ALDH1, KiSS-1, and MACC1 were associated significantly with tumor/lymph node/metastasis (LNM) grade, implantation, and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, and with patients’ overall survival (OS); whereas the KiSS-1+ subgroup had significantly longer OS than did the KiSS-1− subgroup. In multivariate analysis, high VM, ALDH1 or MACC1 levels, FIGO stage, implantation and low KiSS-1 levels were independently associated with shorter OS in patients with EOC.ConclusionsVM and expressions of ALDH1, KiSS-1, and MACC1 represent promising markers for metastasis and prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets for EOC.

Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a new blood supply style in tumors and has long been treated as a useful factor in malignant tumor metastasis and prognosis. Notch4 (a marker of Notch signaling pathway receptors), DLL4 (a marker of Notch signaling pathway ligands) and KAI1/CD82 (a suppressor gene of tumor metastasis) are all effective predictive factors for tumor metastasis. In this study, we analyzed correlations among VM, Notch4, DLL4, and KAI1/CD82 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and their respective associations with patients’ clinicopathological parameters and survival rate in NSCLC.Positive rates of VM, Notch4, DLL4, and KAI1/CD82 in 189 whole NSCLC specimens were detected by histochemical and immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, patients’ clinicopathological information was also collected.Positive rates of VM, Notch4, and DLL4 were significantly higher, and levels of KAI1/CD82 were significantly lower in NSCLC than in normal lung tissues. Positive rates of VM, Notch4, and DLL4 were positively associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis (LNM), distant metastasis (DM) and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and inversely with patients, overall survival (OS) time and positive rate of DLL4 were positively associated with tumor grade. Levels of KAI1/CD82 were negatively associated with tumor size, LNM, DM, and TNM stage. The KAI1/CD82+ subgroup had significantly longer OS time than did the KAI1/CD82- subgroup. In multivariate analysis, high VM, Notch4, DLL4 levels, tumor size, LNM, DM, TNM stage, and low KAI1/CD82 levels were potential to be independent prognostic factors for overall survival time (OST) in NSCLC patients.VM and the expression of Notch4, DLL4, and KAI1/CD82 represent promising markers for tumor metastasis and prognosis, and maybe potential therapeutic targets for NSCLC.