ITGA7, CD133, ALDH1 are inter‐correlated, and linked with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis as well as worse survival in surgical cervical cancer

Abstract

Aim Integrin alpha 7 (ITGA7) regulates cancer stemness and metastasis in several malignancies, while its role in cervical cancer is obscure. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the correlation among ITGA7, cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133), and aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1), as well as their relation to tumor features and survival in cervical cancer patients. Methods A total of 133 surgical cervical cancer patients were enrolled. Tumor ITGA7, CD133, and ALDH1 expressions were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Furthermore, the clinicopathological features, disease‐free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were collected. Results ITGA7 expression positively related to CD133 expression (p = 0.040) and ALDH1 expression (p < 0.001). Besides, ITGA7 (p = 0.001), CD133 (p = 0.016), and ALDH1 (p = 0.009) high expressions linked with poor tumor differentiation; meanwhile, ITGA7 (p = 0.010) and ALDH1 (p = 0.004) high expressions correlated with more prevalence of lymph node metastasis. However, ITGA7, CD133, or ALDH1 expression was not associated with other clinicopathological features. Inspiringly, it was worth noting that ITGA7 (p = 0.009), CD133 (p = 0.041), and ALDH1 (p = 0.035) high expressions predicted unfavorable DFS; meanwhile, both ITGA7 (p = 0.021) and ALDH1 (p = 0.023) high expressions but not CD133 expression (p = 0.169) forecasted exasperated OS. Conclusion ITGA7, CD133, ALDH1 are inter‐correlated, and linked with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis as well as worse survival in surgical cervical cancer.

Unmasking the Deceptive Nature of Cancer Stem Cells: The Role of CD133 in Revealing Their Secrets

“…Joseph et al showed that CD133 was significantly associated with poor prognostic characteristics in breast cancer patients, such as high histological grade, younger age, high Nottingham Prognostic Index, and estrogen and progesterone receptor negative subtypes that often are chemoresistant [177]. A similar observation was found for different cancers, such as gastric [28], colon [105], cervical [229], ovarian [108], and glioblastoma [230]. Therefore, CD133 as a molecular target is still an important "player" in targeted therapy.…”

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family: A potential molecule target for diseases

“…Studies have found that solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (Chen et al, 2015), breast cancer (Pan et al, 2015), cervical cancer (Yuan et al, 2022), liver cancer (Yang et al, 2017), and ovarian cancer (Kim et al, 2017). ALDH1 plays a role in promoting carcinogenesis in breast cancer.…”