ALDH1 expression was analyzed in a highly stratified collective of 186 T3 N0 M0 G2 primary colorectal cancer specimens applying immunohistochemistry. For the analysis a scoring system for the expression of ALDH1 was developed that was aided by the pattern of the subcellular expression of beta-catenin which is a well known indicator for colorectal CSCs.
First, ALDH1 expression could be assigned to two groups which correlated with the absence or presence of nuclear beta-catenin expression. Second, ALDH1 group 2 expression patterning correlated highly significantly with low long term survival (pxA0;=xA0;0.010) of patients with T3 N0 M0 G2 colorectal cancer. This correlation was found univariately and when applying the multivariate Cox-model.
ALDH1 expression pattern is an independent prognostic marker for survival of T3 N0 M0 G2 colorectal cancer patients.