Media University of Babylon | Babylon College of Medicine Discusses a Research Study as Part of the Requirements for the Iraqi Board Fellowship in Pathology (Histopathology)

Media University of Babylon - Faculty of Medicine

Babylon College of Medicine Discusses a Research Study as Part of the Requirements for the Iraqi Board Fellowship in Pathology (Histopathology)

By : Zaynab Kadhim Ameen Awadh

Date : 12/1/2026 20:07:09 AM

Babylon College of Medicine Discusses a Research Study as Part of the Requirements for the Iraqi Board Fellowship in Pathology (Histopathology)
The College of Medicine at the University of Babylon witnessed the discussion of a research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the Iraqi Board Fellowship in Pathology (Histopathology) by the researcher Safaa Fahim Lateef. The study was entitled:
“Immunohistochemical Expression of the Cancer Stem Cell Marker CD44 in Colorectal Carcinoma.”
The research was supervised by Professor Dr. Hadi Mohammed Ali Al-Mousawi.
The study highlighted the relationship between CD44 expression and various prognostic parameters in a sample of Iraqi patients. Colorectal cancer is classified as the third most common cancer worldwide and one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality.
The importance of this research lies in its focus on cancer stem cells (CSCs), particularly the CD44 marker, due to its pivotal role in tumor initiation and persistence, regulation of cell growth and differentiation, enhancement of metastatic behavior, and contribution to therapeutic resistance.
The study adopted a retrospective cross-sectional design and included the examination of 60 cases of colorectal cancer patients in Iraq. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect CD44 protein expression.
The results showed that 65% of cases demonstrated high CD44 expression, while 35% exhibited low expression. A strong and statistically significant association was found between increased CD44 expression and:
• Increased tumor size
• Lymphovascular invasion
• Advanced tumor stage (TNM stage)
The study concluded that CD44 plays a vital role in colorectal carcinoma, and that its overexpression is directly associated with poor prognostic factors and aggressive tumor behavior, making it a potentially important tool for predicting disease course and for the future development of targeted therapeutic strategies.