title: CD44 upregulation in E-cadherin-negative esophageal cancers results in cell invasion.
abstract: E-cadherin is frequently lost during epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the progression of epithelial tumorigenesis. We found a marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, CD44, upregulated in response to functional loss of E-cadherin in esophageal cell lines and cancer. Loss of E-cadherin expression correlates with increased expression of CD44 standard isoform. Using an organotypic reconstruct model, we show increased CD44 expression in areas of cell invasion is associated with MMP-9 at the leading edge. Moreover, Activin A increases cell invasion through CD44 upregulation after E-cadherin loss. Taken together, our results provide functional evidence of CD44 upregulation in esophageal cancer invasion.
authors: Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America.
authors: Grégoire F
authors: GF
authors: Le Bras
authors: Gillian L
authors: GL
authors: Allison
authors: Nicole F
authors: NF
authors: Richards
authors: Shazia S
authors: SS
authors: Ansari
authors: M Kay
authors: MK
authors: Washington
authors: Claudia D
authors: CD
authors: Andl
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C497483:CD44 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9