Adhesion molecule CD44 as a prognostic factor in tongue cancer.
BACKGROUND
Loss of expression of CD44 has been shown to be a factor of poor prognosis in some types of tumors. The purpose of this study was to analyze this in relation to the survival of patients with tongue cancer.


METHODS
The expression of adhesion molecule CD44 was studied in 56 patients with tongue cancer. Data were gathered on clinical (T, N, M and stage) and pathological (T, N, stage, extracapsular spread, differentiation, tumor thickness, surgical margin and CD44 expression) parameters. Immunohistochemistry studies were carried out using DF1485 anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody.


RESULTS
In five tumors (8.9%) < 25%, in 11 (19.6%) 25%-49%, in 15 (26.8%) 50%-74% and in 25 (44.6%) > or = 75% of the neoplastic cells expressed CD44. A Cox proportional risks multivariate analysis identified CD44 expression as the parameter most associated with survival (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The reduced expression of CD44 behaves as a marker of poor tongue tumor prognosis.
Gonzalez-Moles
Miguel Angel
MA
Department of Oral Medicine, University of Granada, Spain. magonzal@ugr.es
Bravo
Manuel
M
Ruiz-Avila
Isabel
I
Esteban
Francisco
F
Rodriguez-Archilla
Alberto
A
Gonzalez-Moles
Salvador
S
Arias
Bartolome
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors