Affiliations: [a] Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India | [b] Department of General Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Prof. Amanjit Bal, Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. Tel.: +91 0172 2755104; Fax: +91 0172 2744401; E-mail: docaman5@hotmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Breast cancer heterogeneity is well documented and to some extent is attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Breast cancer stem cells are identified by the presence of cell surface molecule CD44 and absence of CD24. METHODS:In the present study a flowcytometric analysis was done to study the expression distribution of CSC phenotype of CD44+/CD24-/low, among different molecular subtypes of breast cancer and to find a correlation with clinicopathological features. RESULTS:CSCs were observed in all the molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The highest population of CSCs was noted in luminal B (3.4%), followed by TNBC (1.7%), and Her-2 subtype (1.6%). The least number of CD44+/CD24- cells were seen in Luminal A subgroup (1.3%). CONCLUSION:Existence of cancer stem cells in all the subtypes may suggest the possibility of failure of current therapies in treatment of patients.
Keywords: Cancer stem cells, flowcytometry, breast cancer
DOI: 10.3233/BD-210050
Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 199-203, 2022
