title: CD44-9v and CD44-10v are potential molecular markers for squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  CD44 is a cell surface glycoprotein widely distributed in the extracellular matrix. CD44 isoforms arising from alternative mRNA splicing are implicated in tumor metastases. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of CD44s and two splice variants, CD44-9v and CD44-10v, in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva as well as its correlation with lymph node (LN) metastases and disease-free survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five SCC vulvar tumors were evaluated for CD44s, CD44-9v, and CD44-10v expression by immunocytochemistry. One nonmetastatic LN was studied also. In cases with LN metastases, the metastatic LN as well as a nonmetastatic LN from the same patient were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD44s and CD44-9v were expressed in all epithelia--normal, dysplastic, and SCC. However, intensity and distribution of expression of 9v isoforms changed within the tissue containing invasive cancer. CD44-9v expression was downregulated in the most differentiated cells within the carcinoma, mainly in patients who had disease recurrence or eventually died of disease (P = .031). All metastatic tumor to LNs was immunoreactive also for CD44-9v. CD44-10v expression was present in 78% of tumors and 56% of normal epithelium. Interestingly, CD44-10v membrane expression, but not cytoplasmic expression, correlated with disease recurrence (P = .035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings warrant larger multi-institutional studies to determine the potential of CD44-9v and CD44-10v as molecular markers of disease recurrence in vulvar carcinoma. We propose to test the use of anti-CD44-9v monoclonal antibody for radioimmunoimaging of occult LN metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sancho-Torres
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Gibbon
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Watelet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mesonero
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors