European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: The study aims to analyse expression of stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenases 1 (ALDH1) by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the gall bladder.
Materials and Methods: The study was accomplished at the Department of Pathology Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow. A total of 105 cases were enrolled for the study. The paraffin embedded tissue was subjected to haematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemistry was done further for the expression of ALDH1 stem cell marker, IHC was further done.
Results: Out of 70 non-neoplastic cases, ALDH1 came out to be positive for 12 cases and 15 cases came out to be positive for ALDH1 out of 35 neoplastic cases. The ALDH1 expression was found to be significantly higher in neoplastic than non-neoplastic lesions. Among the non-neoplastic lesions no significant difference seen with age, sex and cholelithiasis, whereas statistical significance was seen in cases with chronic cholecystitis, metaplasia, hyperplasia and low grade dysplasia as well as in ALDH1 expression in neoplastic lesions associated with cholelithiasis and histological grade of tumour.
Conclusion: ALDH1 expression in non - neoplastic & neoplastic gallbladder lesions may support the concept that the stem cells may be primary target of transformation in gallbladder carcinogenesis associated with prolong inflammation