Expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in endometrioid adenocarcinoma and its clinical implications

Cancer Sci. 2011 Apr;102(4):903-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2011.01864.x. Epub 2011 Feb 9.

Abstract

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is expressed in stem/progenitor cells, including cancer-initiating cells (CIC) of various organs. In the present study, ALDH1 expression was immunohistochemically examined in uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma. The ALDH1 was expressed in a small portion of tumor cells, and these ALDH1-expressing cells were less mature than ALDH1-non-expressing cells. The ALDH1-expressing (ALDH1-hi) cells were more tumorigenic, resistant to anti-cancer agents and more invasive than ALDH1-lo cells. Culture of the sorted ALDH1-hi cells yielded both ALDH1-hi and ALDH1-lo cells, whereas ALDH1-lo cells yielded ALDH-lo cells alone. Clinically, a high-level of ALDH1 expression in tumor cells was correlated with T category, lymphatic invasion, recurrence and prognosis of patients. Patients with high ALDH1 expression showed poorer prognoses than those with low expression (P = 0.015 for disease-free survival [DFS] and P = 0.010 for overall survival [OS]), and high ALDH1 expression was an independent factor for poor prognosis. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 is a candidate for CIC marker for uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Retinal Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Survival Rate
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Isoenzymes
  • Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family
  • ALDH1A1 protein, human
  • Retinal Dehydrogenase
  • Cisplatin