CD44 isoform expression in synovial sarcoma correlates with epitheliogenesis but not prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
We immunohistochemically determined the expression of CD44 standard and splice variant isoforms in a series of synovial sarcomas and sought correlations with histological subtype and clinical parameters including outcome.


RESULTS
From 39 patients, a total of 56 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumour samples (including initial, recurrent and metastatic tumours) were used to immunohistochemically evaluate the expression of epitopes encoded by CD44s and the CD44 splice variants CD44v3-v10. Significance of proposed prognostic indicators was evaluated in relation to the survival, time to local recurrence and time to metastases using log-rank analysis. Sixty-four percent of synovial sarcomas expressed CD44s and 46% expressed CD44v3-v10 (var). Synovial sarcomas with epithelial or epithelioid areas preferentially expressed CD44s in these areas when compared with the spindle cell element. There were no correlations with clinical parameters or outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of CD44 was not found to correlate with survival, local recurrence or metastatic ability. In synovial sarcoma, CD44 and variant isoform expression appears to be associated with the degree of epithelial differentiation. CD44 expression in synovial sarcoma shows interesting similarities to CD44 expression in embryological epitheliogenesis.
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Oncology Service, Birmingham and Pathology Department, The University of Birmingham, UK.
R J
RJ
Sneath
D C
DC
Mangham
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D020033:Protein Isoforms