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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: AC133 Antigen, Aged, Antigens, CD, Antigens, Neoplasm, Bile Duct Neoplasms, Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic, Biomarkers, Tumor, Cell Adhesion, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Cholangiocarcinoma, Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule, Epithelial Cells, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Glycoproteins, Humans, Hyaluronan Receptors, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Peptides, Predictive Value of Tests, Prognosis, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Transcriptome.
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Is epithelial cell adhesion molecule a prognosis marker for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma? Context: Recently, we identified a gene signature of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) stroma and demonstrated its clinical relevance for prognosis. The most upregulated genes included epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), a biomarker of cancer stem cells (CSC). We hypothesized that CSC biomarkers could predict recurrence of resected ICC. Both functional analysis of the stroma signature previously obtained and immunohistochemistry of 40 resected ICC were performed. The relationships between the expression of CSC markers and clinicopathologic factors including survival were assessed by univariate and multivariable analyzes. Gene expression profile of the stroma of ICC highlighted embryonic stem cells signature. Immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray showed at a protein level the increased expression of CSC biomarkers in the stroma of ICC compared with nontumor fibrous liver tissue. The overexpression of EpCAM in the stroma of ICC is an independent risk factor for overall (hazard ratio = 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.1; P = 0.005) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.2; P = 0.012). In addition, the overexpression of EpCAM in nontumor fibrous liver tissue is closely correlated with a worst disease-free survival (P = 0.035).
assistant
Our findings provide new arguments for a potential role of CSC on ICC progression supporting the idea that targeting CSC biomarkers might represent a promise personalized treatment. Final Decision: yes