title: CD44v6 expression in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine CD44v6 expression in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and clarify the role of CD44v6 in progression, invasion, metastasis, and morphogenesis of IPMNs.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-one samples of IPMNs and 30 normal controls were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for CD44v6. The IPMNs were divided into 4 groups according to the grade of atypia (adenoma, borderline IPMN, noninvasive carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma) and 5 subtypes according to histological phenotype (gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary, oncocytic, and unclassified). Correlations were investigated between CD44v6 expression and clinicopathological characteristics including grade of atypia, subtype, lymph node metastasis, and invasion pattern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas normal ductal epithelium did not express CD44v6, CD44v6 expression was observed from the early stage of IPMNs and up-regulated in the progression of IPMNs to invasive carcinoma. CD44v6 expression in intestinal-type IPMNs was significantly lower compared with that in other subtypes. Whereas no correlation was observed between lymph node metastasis and CD44v6 expression in invasive IPM carcinomas, the invasion pattern was significantly correlated to CD44v6 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data indicate that CD44v6 expression determines the morphology and aggressiveness of IPMNs and is involved in development and invasion of IPMNs.
authors: Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Miyasaka
authors: Eishi
authors: E
authors: Nagai
authors: Kenoki
authors: K
authors: Ohuchida
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Nakata
authors: Akifumi
authors: A
authors: Hayashi
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Mizumoto
authors: Masazumi
authors: M
authors: Tsuneyoshi
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C112697:CD44v6 antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors