title: Serum CD44 levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and their relationship with clinicopathological features.
abstract: Serum CD44 standard and CD44 variant 6 levels were measured in 45 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 33 patients with benign lung disease by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of CD44 variant 6 in trans-bronchial biopsy specimens from the NSCLC patients was studied by an immunoperoxidase method. CD44 standard and CD44 variant 6 levels in NSCLC patients were not significantly different from those in benign lung disease patients. However, serum CD44 variant 6 level in squamous cell carcinoma patients (226.8 +/- 152.7 ng/ml) was significantly higher than in patients with benign lung disease (154.8 +/- 46.4 ng/ml) (P = 0.011). Neither the serum level of CD44 standard nor that of CD44 variant 6 was correlated with disease Stage and metastasis. CD44 variant 6 expression was most frequently observed in squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.00058); 15 (79%) of 19 squamous cell carcinoma cases were positive, as were five (22%) of 23 adenocarcinoma cases and two (67%) of three large cell carcinoma cases. Serum CD44 variant 6 levels were 217.1 +/- 143.1 and 156.1 +/- 48.8 ng/ml in patients with and without positive expression of CD44 variant 6, respectively (P = 0.020). Serum CD44 standard and CD44 variant 6 levels are not useful indicators of tumor burden and metastasis in patients with NSCLC. CD44 variant 6 expression might be associated with histological features of NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Research, National Shikoku Cancer Center Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan. ntakigaw@shikokucc.go.jp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mandai
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors