Abstract: Objective To explore the expression of CD133 and CD44 in the primary gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) and their
relationship with the expression of E-cadherin. Methods The expressions of CD133, CD44, and E-cadherin was examined by
immunohistochemistry in 145 specimens of GAC tissues and 30 specimens of normal gastric tissues. Results The positivity
rates of CD133, CD44, and E-cadherin in normal gastric tissues were 10.0%, 0%, and 100%, respectively, showing significant
differences from the rates in GAC tissues (46.9%, 47.6%, and 42.8%, respectively) (P<0.05). The expressions of CD133, CD44,
and E-cadherin were significantly related with the tumor volume, differentiation, lymph node metastasis, invasive depth,
pathologic-tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stages, and postoperative-survival time (all P<0.05); a positive correlation was
found between the expression of CD133 and CD44, and they were both negatively correlated with E-cadherin expression (P<
0.005). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant difference in the survival rate between CD133-positive and CD133-negative
patients (P<0.001) and between CD44-positive and CD44-negative patients; the patients with positive expression of E-cadherin
had a significantly longer survival than those negative for E-cadherin. Cox regression analysis indicated that CD133, CD44,
and E-cadherin expressions were all independent prognostic factors of GAC (all P<0.05). Conclusion The expressions of
CD133, CD44, and E-cadherin are related to the tumor volume, differentiation, pTNM stages, invasive depth, lymph node
metastasis, and prognosis of GAC, and their combined detection can be of important value in predicting the prognosis of GAC.