Expression of CD44v6 has no prognostic value in patients with colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
In colorectal cancer patients' mortality is largely influenced by spreading of tumour cells from the primary tumour site and subsequent metastasis formation. CD44 is an adhesion molecule and represents a highly variable family of isoforms. The isoform CD44v6 has been associated with metastatic spread and poor prognosis in animal models and several human cancers. Results of immunohistological studies in primary colorectal cancer are mostly retrospective and contradictory. The aim of our prospective study was to assess the controversial role of CD44v6 as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer.


METHODS
In 93 patients we analysed tumour CD44v6 expression in prospectively sampled stage I-IV colorectal adenocarcinomas using RT-PCR and Southern blotting. The prognostic value of the CD44v6 expression was assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
CD44v6 expression was found in 47 % of the cases. CD44v6 expression failed to show any association with the clinical or histological variables examined. CD44v6 expression did not correlate with survival in long-term follow-up. The most important prognostic factor in this cohort was tumour stage.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in CD446 expression level do not predict tumour spread or patient survival in colorectal cancer.
Jüngling
B
B
Department of Internal Medicine II, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Menges
M
M
Goebel
R
R
Wittig
B M
BM
Weg-Remers
S
S
Pistorius
G
G
Schilling
M
M
Bauer
M
M
König
J
J
Zeitz
M
M
Stallmach
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
C112697:CD44v6 antigen; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors