High CD133 Expression in the Nucleus and Cytoplasm Predicts Poor Prognosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Figure 1

Representative patterns of CD133 protein expression in NSCLC and normal lung tissue. (a1) and (a2) Adenocarcinoma tissue and adjacent normal lung tissue. The expression of CD133 in tumor tissue was higher than that in adjacent normal lung tissue by IHC staining. The red arrow indicates positive CD133 protein expression in the nucleus of adenocarcinoma cells. The green arrow indicates strong CD133 staining in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. (b1) and (b2) Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The expression of CD133 protein was positive in lung carcinoma tissues. The red arrow indicates positive CD133 protein expression in the nucleus of tumor cells. (c1) and (c2) Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The green arrow indicates CD133 staining in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. (d1) and (d2) Normal lung tissue. The expression of CD133 protein was negative in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. The yellow arrow indicates that expression of CD133 in alveolar epithelial cells is negative.