Am J Cancer Res 2013;3(2):221-229
Original Article
ALDH enzymatic activity and CD133 positivity and response to chem-otherapy
in ovarian cancer patients
Francesca Ricci, Sergio Bernasconi, Luca Porcu, Eugenio Erba, Nicolò Panini, Robert Fruscio, Federica Sina, Valter Torri,
Massimo Broggini, Giovanna Damia
Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”- IRCCS, Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy; Clinic of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20052 Monza, Italy
Received January 7, 2013; Accepted February 21, 2013; Epub April 3, 2013; Published April 13, 2013
Abstract: The prognostic/predictive role of both CD133 and Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) expression in human ovarian
cancer remains elusive. This is an observational study that investigated the expression of CD133 and of ALDH enzymatic activity
in fresh ovarian cancer samples and their association with different clinic-pathological patient’ characteristics and explored their
possible predictive/prognostic role. We analyzed the expression of CD133 and ALDH enzymatic activity in 108 human ovarian
cancer samples. We found that among the total patients analyzed, 13% of them was completely negative for ALDH activity and
26% was negative for CD133 staining. Both markers were variably expressed within the samples and when both studied in the
same tumor sample, no statistically significant correlation between ALDH enzymatic activity and CD133 expression was found.
No statistical significant correlation was found also between the percentage values of positive ALDH and CD133 cells and the
number of serial passages patient’s cultures underwent, suggesting that these markers do not confer by themselves a self-
renewal growth advantage to the cultures. Lower levels of CD133 were associated with higher tumor grade. No correlation with
response to therapy, progression free survival and overall survival was found. Our data suggest that neither ALDH enzymatic
activity nor CD133 expression provide additional predictive/prognostic information in ovarian cancer patients. (AJCR0000171)
Keywords: CD133, ALDH activity, ovarian carcinoma
Address correspondence to: Giovanna Damia, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Via
La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy. Phone: +39-02-39014473; Fax: +39-02-39014734; E-mail: giovanna.damia@marionegri.it
Original Article
ALDH enzymatic activity and CD133 positivity and response to chem-otherapy
in ovarian cancer patients
Francesca Ricci, Sergio Bernasconi, Luca Porcu, Eugenio Erba, Nicolò Panini, Robert Fruscio, Federica Sina, Valter Torri,
Massimo Broggini, Giovanna Damia
Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”- IRCCS, Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy; Clinic of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milan-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20052 Monza, Italy
Received January 7, 2013; Accepted February 21, 2013; Epub April 3, 2013; Published April 13, 2013
Abstract: The prognostic/predictive role of both CD133 and Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) expression in human ovarian
cancer remains elusive. This is an observational study that investigated the expression of CD133 and of ALDH enzymatic activity
in fresh ovarian cancer samples and their association with different clinic-pathological patient’ characteristics and explored their
possible predictive/prognostic role. We analyzed the expression of CD133 and ALDH enzymatic activity in 108 human ovarian
cancer samples. We found that among the total patients analyzed, 13% of them was completely negative for ALDH activity and
26% was negative for CD133 staining. Both markers were variably expressed within the samples and when both studied in the
same tumor sample, no statistically significant correlation between ALDH enzymatic activity and CD133 expression was found.
No statistical significant correlation was found also between the percentage values of positive ALDH and CD133 cells and the
number of serial passages patient’s cultures underwent, suggesting that these markers do not confer by themselves a self-
renewal growth advantage to the cultures. Lower levels of CD133 were associated with higher tumor grade. No correlation with
response to therapy, progression free survival and overall survival was found. Our data suggest that neither ALDH enzymatic
activity nor CD133 expression provide additional predictive/prognostic information in ovarian cancer patients. (AJCR0000171)
Keywords: CD133, ALDH activity, ovarian carcinoma
Address correspondence to: Giovanna Damia, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, Via
La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy. Phone: +39-02-39014473; Fax: +39-02-39014734; E-mail: giovanna.damia@marionegri.it
| AJCR Copyright © 2010-present, All rights reserved. Published by e-Century Publishing Corporation, Madison, WI 53711, USA |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
American Journal of Cancer Research
| ISSN: 2156-6976 |