Abstract
Background/Aim: Cancer cells have an essential demand for vitamin B12 (cobalamin) to enable cellular replication. The present pilot study quantified the immunohistochemical expression of vitamin B12 transport protein (Transcobalamin II; TCII), cell surface receptor (Transcobalamin II-R; TCII-R) and proliferation protein (Ki-67) in human tumor xenografts. Materials and Methods: Tissue microarray slides containing 34 xenograft tumor tissues were immunohistochemically stained using TCN2 (anti-TCII), CD320 (anti-TCII-R) and MIB-1 (anti-Ki-67) antibodies. Representatively stained areas of all slides were digitally imaged and protein expression was quantified using ImageJ software plugins. Results: All xenograft tumor tissues stained positively for TCII, TCII-R and Ki-67 proteins; expression varied both within and between tumor types. Correlation between TCII/TCII-R and Ki-67 expression was not significant in xenograft tissues. Conclusion: Proliferating cancer cells express measurable levels of TCII and TCII-R. Immunohistochemical quantification of these markers may be useful as a tool for detection of tumors, tailored selection of anti-tumor therapies and surveillance for evidence of recurrent disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 4203-4212 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Anticancer research |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 10 |
State | Published - Oct 2013 |
Keywords
- Immunohistochemistry
- Ki-67
- Receptor
- Transcobalamin II
- Transport protein
- Vitamin B12
- Xenograft
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research