[Expression of CD44v6 before and after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer and its significance].
OBJECTIVE
CD44 is the member of adhered molecular family, and related to the formation and metastasis of tumor. Especially the CD44v6 isoform of its variation form was closed associated with the invasion and metastases of tumors. The current study was designed to investigate the relationship between the expression of CD44v6 in the blood, cancer tissues, and lymphnode in the patients with breast cancer and chemotherapy.


METHODS
The expression of CD44v6 in breast cancer tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry and that in circuling lymphocyte and lymphnode adherense cell by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
CD44v6 level increased in cancer tissue (t = 4.71, P < 0.05) and the metastatic lymphnode (t = 5.11, P < 0.05), did not change in circuling lymphocyte (t = 0.98, P > 0.05). CD44v6 expressed in tumor cells was strong positive and positive rate was 100%. The expression of CD44v6 in benign tumor tissue was negative. After chemotherapy with CMF, CD44v6 expressed in tumor cells was still 100%. CD44v6 level decreased significantly in lymphocyte of cancer tissue (t = 4.13, P < 0.05), did not change in blood and lymphnode comparing to before chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
It was proved that the expression of CD44v6 was closely related to the metastases of lymphnode and more closely related to the prognosis of breast cancer.
Niu
Rui-Fang
RF
Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, P. R. China. zirchrom@public.tpt.tj.cn
Zhang
Jin
J
Huang
Jian-Ying
JY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged
C112697:CD44v6 antigen; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors