The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between cancer stem cells markers (CSCs), according to cell adhesion molecule (CD44) and glioma-associated oncogene homolog-1 (GLI1) expression, and clinicopathological factors and prognosis in 38 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) who underwent hepatectomy. CD44 and GLI1 expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining methods. The relationship with tumor angiogenesis or proliferation activity was also analyzed. Positivity of CD44 was 18% and that of GLI1 was 39%, but there was no significant correlation between the expressions of both. On macroscopic findings, CD44 expression in the periductal infiltration-type of ICC was significantly higher than in other types (p<0.01), and this type showed significantly worse survival after hepatectomy. Positive expression of GLI1 was significantly associated with older age. Although expression of neither CD44 nor GLI1 was significantly associated with disease-free survival, positive expression of both CD44 and GLI1 led to a significantly lower 3-year disease-free survival rate (0%; p<0.05). With respect to 5-year overall survival after hepatectomy, expression of both CD44 and GLI1 was not significantly associated with survival rate. CSCs might be useful markers for tumor-free survival in patients with ICC after hepatectomy and further investigation in larger series is warranted.
Keywords: CD44; GLI1; Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; cancer stem cells; hepatic resection.