Research Information System
Indian J Pathol Microbiol, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
BACKGROUND: In recent years, stem cells have been defined as the main cell
population responsible for resistance to anticancer therapies.
AIM: This study aims to investigate potential associations between the stem cell
population and the degree of tumor regression in breast carcinomas treated with
neoadjuvant therapy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study included 92 patients
with breast carcinoma who received neoadjuvant therapy. Tumor regression
was defined based on Miller and Payne grading system. Patients with grade 1
or 2 regression on a 5‑point scale were included in group 1 (n = 37), grade 3
regression in group 2 (n = 32), and grade 4 or 5 regression in group 3 (n = 23).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on
paraffin block sections of every case using CD44, CD24, CD29, CD133, ID4, and
ALDH1 antibodies to detect stem cells. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: IBM
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0 (IBM Corp.,
Armonk, NY, USA) software was used for statistical analyses, and a P value
less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Histologically
high‑grade tumors are more common in the near‑complete/complete response
group (P = 0.004). HER2‑positive tumors were more common in the complete/
near‑complete response group (P = 0.054). Tumor cells positive for stem
cell markers CD44 and CD24 were more common in the poor response
group (P = 0.027 and P = 0.001, respectively). CD29 expression was reduced in
the posttreatment residual tumor tissue in the near‑complete/complete response
group. CONCLUSION: High CD44 and CD24 expression may be a predictor
of poor response/nonresponse to neoadjuvant therapy in breast carcinomas.
KEY WORDS: Breast Cancers, neoadjuvant treatment, stem cell markers, stem
cells, tumor regression grade