title: CD44V6 in gastric carcinoma: a marker of tumor progression.
abstract: CD44 is a group of cell surface molecules involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. CD44 spliced variants (CD44V) have been found to enhance the metastatic potential of rat tumors. Tumors from the breast, colon, and thyroid express many alternatively spliced products; nonneoplastic tissues do not. Some authors suggest that CD44V5 and V6 may play a role in gastric carcinoma. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of CD44V6 as a prognostic marker and predictor of metastatic potential in gastric carcinomas. One hundred fifty-five cases of gastric adenocarcinomas were studied: 36 cases of early (EGC), 19 cases of intermediate (MGC), and 100 cases of advanced gastric adenocarcinomas (AGC). A monoclonal antibody against CD44V6 (R&D) was used. CD44V6 expression was positively correlated with advanced stage (P = 0.05). Strong positivity was only detected in those cases of AGC with metastases. Patients with CD44V6 positive tumors revealed a lower 3- and 5-year survival rate (P = 0.0002). Immunohistochemical detection of CD44V6 could now be used as an indicator of tumor progression in biopsies of patients with gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, St Stephen's Green.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Leader
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D051381:Rats; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C112697:CD44v6 antigen; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors