IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXPRESSION OF CANCER STEM CELL MARKER (ALDH1) IN A PROSTATE CANCER

Hadeel Ismail Mohsen*, Basim S. H. Ahmed and Adnan I. Ali

ABSTRACT

Background: Cancer stem cells were identified in several cancers, including PCa, and have been proposed to explain the metastatic capacity, recurrence, and resistance to hormone, radio and chemotherapy in established cell lines from PCa origin, particularly from metastasis. Enzymatic assays and immunohistochemistry have identified several proteins and surface markers that are expressed by CSCs and may be used to identify them in patients. Aim of the study: To assess the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression patterns of the ALDHmarker in PCa, BPH and in apparently normal looking prostate tissue. Methods: A cross-sectional Study carried out at department of histopathology and forensic medicine at Al-Mustansirya medical college and teaching lab of Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital during a period of one year from (1st of august 2017 to 30th of July 2018). It involved 90 specimens; and these specimens were divided into the following: 60 of them were collected retrospectively depending on the archived files of patients diagnosed either with BPH (30 specimens) or with PCa (30 specimens) in the years 2016 and 2017 in Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital and in the private labs. The other 30 specimens of normal prostatic tissue were collected prospectively from autopsy presented in forensic medicine directorate during the first three months of 2018. All patients diagnosed with BPH or PCa during 2016 and 2017 were included without any exclusion. Positive control: Human gallbladder tissue for ALDH marker with each run. Results: The mean age of the patients was 73.71 ± 8.15 years. The highest proportion of specimens of PCa (Group A) was graded ≤ 7 by Gleason Grading System (53.3%). There were significant associations (P < 0.05) between all these CSC marker results and prevalence of PCa. Positive ALDH marker result was significantly associated (P=0.024) with high Gleason Grading System. Conclusion: ALDH1 is significantly expressed in prostate carcinomas, and more likely so in cases with Gleason grading system 8.

Keywords: PCa, CSC markers, BPH, Iraq.