CD133 expression in colorectal adenomas

We have read with great interest the recent publication on the stem cell marker CD133 and serrated and hyperplastic intestinal polyps by Mohammadi et al. 1 Although adenomas are the most frequent type of benign colorectal polyp, there are limited published data on CD133 expression.2 ,3 We examined the patterns of CD133 expression by immunohistochemistry in 110 colorectal adenoma tissue specimens on tissue microarrays (CD133 clone C24B9, 1:50 dilution; Cell Signaling Technology; Ventana Benchmark ISH/IHC). All hematoxilin and eosin (H&E) stained slides were reviewed and representative low- and high-grade dysplasia zones were selected. Tissue cores (two) of 0.6 mm from these zones were used to construct the tissue microarray block (Tissu Arrayer MiniCore 3, Excilone). Main morphological characteristics of adenoma (size, degree of dysplasia, tubular or villous architecture, extent of epithelial mucosecretion) were assessed on the H&E stained whole section slides. The relationships between CD133 expression and these characteristics were analysed by Fisher's test and logistic regression models …