Evaluation of the prognostic value of CD44 in glioblastoma multiforme.
OBJECTIVE
Glioblastoma and astrocytoma are the most common brain tumors affecting adults 45-60 years of age. The poor prognosis for glioblastoma patients results from recurrence after treatment. There is therefore an urgent need to develop diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as new therapies.


METHODS
Microarray analyses of clinical specimens from glioblastoma patients were used to identify potential tumor markers. Expression of candidate genes was analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Five potential markers (CD44 antigen (CD44), growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible, alpha (GADD45A), fibronectin 1 (FN1), CD63 antigen (CD63) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1)) showed expression patterns that correlated significantly with malignant glioma. In particular, expression of the CD44 antigen was elevated in more severe tumor types, and higher in tumor cores than in peripheral regions. However, lower levels of CD44 expression surprisingly correlated with lower survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The CD44 antigen is a promising candidate for further development as a prognostic and therapeutic tool.
Wei
Kuo-Chen
KC
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 5, Fu Shin Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C. kuochenwei@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Huang
Chiung-Yin
CY
Chen
Pin-Yuan
PY
Feng
Li-Ying
LY
Wu
Tai-Wei Erich
TW
Chen
Shu-Mei
SM
Tsai
Hong-Chieh
HC
Lu
Yu-Jen
YJ
Tsang
Ngan-Ming
NM
Tseng
Chen-Kan
CK
Pai
Ping-Ching
PC
Shin
Jyh-Wei
JW
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors