[Clinical significance of CD44 expression in ovarian epithelial tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical significance of the adhesion molecule CD44 expression in ovarian epithelial tumors and its relation to the clinical manifestation of ovarian cancer.


METHODS
The expression of CD44 protein and mRNA was examined by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, nested PCR and densitometric scanning. The correlation between CD44 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed.


RESULTS
In comparison with benign ovarian tumors, CD44H protein expression was significantly higher in ovarian cancer in terms of positive rate as well as the level of expression. The levels of mRNA expression in ovarian cancer positively correlated with the grade and stage. The CD44H mRNA expression level in primary tumor correlated with that in the metastatic lesions. High levels of expression of CD44H mRNA predicted poor survival probability. The expression rate of CD44V3, CD44V4/5 and CD44V6 protein was 21.2%, 19.2% and 15.4% respectively in ovarian cancer as compared to 3.1%, 12.5% and 0 in benign tumors. There was significant difference between the two groups in CD44V6.


CONCLUSIONS
Epithelial carcinoma of ovary expresses high level of CD44H. The amount of CD44H mRNA expression increased with progression of ovarian cancer. It can serve as a predictor of prognosis. It may play an important role in the peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer. Expression of CD44V6 is characteristic of malignant ovarian epithelial tumor.
Qu
P
P
Tianjin Central Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin 300052, China.
Jiao
S
S
Gao
Q
Q
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate
C112697:CD44v6 antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger