The effect of tumor resection and radiotherapy on the expression of stemcell markers (CD44 and CD133) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are heterogeneous malignant disease that are including 90% of the head and neck cancers. HNSCCs originate from the mucosal lining epithelium of the upper aerodigestive tract. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) generate HNSCCs with the CD44 and CD133 phenotype and are responsible for the resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In this present study, we evaluated the quantitative alteration in CD44 and CD133 expression before and following tumor resection and radiotherapy in HNSCC patients. We also measured alterations in the expression of Bax, Bak, Bcl-2, ALDH and PTEN genes. Materials and methods To evaluate the alterations in CD44 and CD133 surface markers before and after tumor resection and radiotherapy, flow cytometry was performed. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was carried out to investigate the mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bak, Bcl-2, ALDH and PTEN. Results Our results revealed that cancer cell CD44 surface marker significantly decreased after tumor resection and radiotherapy in HNSCC patients, while it was not significant for the expression of the CD133 marker. mRNA expression level of Bcl-2 and ALDH was increased, but Bax, Bak and PTEN genes expression was significantly reduced. Conclusion Our results indicated that the expression of CD44 significantly decreased after tumor resection and radiotherapy. Upregulation of mRNA level of Bcl-2 and ALDH, and downregulation of Bax, Bak and PTEN genes expression were seen in the patients compared to healthy control groups.