Role of CD151 expression in gallbladder carcinoma.

CD151 is a member of the tetraspanin family, which interacts with laminin-binding integrins and other tetraspanins. CD151 is involved in several pathologic activities associated with tumor progression, including metastasis and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical use of CD151 expression in gallbladder cancer (GBC). Forty-five patients with GBC who had undergone operative treatment were enrolled in this study. Expressions of CD151 in the resected GBC specimens were evaluated with anti-CD151 antibody. The patients were divided into positive and negative groups according to CD151 expression: CD151-positive group (n = 26) and CD151-negative group (n = 19). Clinicopathologic factors, including Ki-67 and matrix metallopeptidase 9, also were compared between the two groups. CD151-positive expression was 58% and correlated with poorer prognosis; 5-year survival of CD151-positive and CD151-negative groups was 29% and 78%, respectively (P = .006). CD151 expression also correlated with lymphatic invasion and curability. Multivariate analysis revealed that CD151-positive expression was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 2.97, P = .02). In addition, CD151 expression correlated with matrix metallopeptidase 9 expression (P < .05) but not with Ki67 expression. Those findings suggested that CD151-positive expression might be a potential prognostic indicator and one of the target molecules for the regulation of tumor metastasis for patients with GBC.