title: CD44 expression and tumour cell density correlate with response to tamoxifen/carboplatin chemotherapy in glioblastomas.
abstract: In order to identify response predictors for a post-operative glioblastoma therapy consisting of tamoxifen, carboplatin and radiotherapy, expression of 12 antigens was evaluated in 36 newly diagnosed tumours and 13 recurrences. Results were correlated with the clinical course of the disease. Antigen expression was assessed immunohistochemically for CD44s, TGF-beta2, TGF-alpha, progesterone receptor, estrogen receptor, EGFR, urokinase, urokinase inhibitor 1, CD87, p53 protein and Ki-67. Vessel density was determined by labelling of endothelia with von Willebrand factor. Response to chemotherapy correlated positively with cell density (p < 0.05) and negatively with CD44 over-expression (p < 0.02). Further, a positive correlation between age and CD44 expression (p < 0.05) and a negative correlation between age and p53 accumulation (p < 0.01) was found. In tumour recurrences expression of CD44 was significantly higher in local recurrences than in distant multifocal recurrences (p < 0.02), suggesting that CD44 may predominantly be associated with cell adhesion in glioblastomas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, University Klinicum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. hagel@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagel
authors.forename: Sung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Maximilian J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Puchner
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stavrou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D013629:Tamoxifen; D016190:Carboplatin