title: Expression of the adhesion molecule CD44v3 is a prognostic factor in vulvar carcinoma.
abstract: Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic value of CD44v3 overexpression in vulvar cancer patients. Twenty-five cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages I to III were examined for overexpression of the CD44 isoform CD44v3. The correlation of CD44v3 overexpression with clinical stage, histologic grade and overall survival was investigated. Follow-up ranged from 36 to 120 months. Clinical stage and histologic grade did not correlate with CD44v3 overexpression. CD44v3 overexpression was associated with poorer overall survival (log rank: P < 0.03). Immunohistochemically detected CD44v3 overexpression is significantly correlated with a reduced overall survival rate for patients with vulvar carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tempfer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gitsch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanzal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reinthaller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koelbl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kainz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors