title: The CD44v6-negative phenotype in high-grade uterine carcinomas correlates with serous histologic subtype.
abstract: Uterine serous carcinomas (USCs) and poorly differentiated (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Grade 3) endometrioid adenocarcinomas (ECs) are two histologic subtypes of high-grade uterine carcinoma that differ in clinical presentation, patterns of dissemination, and biologic aggressiveness. To investigate the mechanisms responsible for this heterogeneity, we studied CD44 and CD44v6 expression in a series of 20 USCs and 21 poorly differentiated ECs. CD44 is a protein involved in cell adhesion and lymphocyte homing, and one of its isoforms, CD44v6, might be related to capillary-lymphatic space invasion and metastasis. Eight (40%) of 20 USCs expressed CD44, compared with 18 (86%) of 21 ECs (P < .005). None of the USCs were reactive with antibodies against CD44v6, whereas 45% of the ECs were immunoreactive (P < .001). CD44v6 expression was observed in the myoinvasive ECs but was not seen in foci of capillary-lymphatic space invasion in either the ECs or the USCs. In summary, the USCs were significantly more likely to demonstrate a CD44- and CD44v6-negative phenotype than were the poorly differentiated ECs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021, USA. rasoslow@mail.med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Soslow
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Isacson
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010641:Phenotype; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins