title: CD44 and its ligand hyaluronan as potential biomarkers in malignant pleural mesothelioma: evidence and perspectives.
abstract: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and highly drug resistant tumor arising from the mesothelial surfaces of the lung pleura. The standard method to confirm MPM is the tedious, time-consuming cytological examination of cancer biopsy. Biomarkers that are detectable in pleural effusion or patient serum are reasonable options to provide a faster and noninvasive diagnostic approach. As yet, the current biomarkers for MPM lack specificity and sensitivity to discriminate this neoplasm from other lung tumors. CD44, a multifunctional surface receptor has been implicated in tumor progression in different cancers including MPM. The interaction of CD44 with its ligand, hyaluronan (HA) has demonstrated an important role in modulating cell proliferation and invasiveness in MPM. In particular, the high expression levels of these molecules have shown diagnostic relevance in MPM. This review will summarize the biology and diagnostic implication of CD44 and HA as well as the interaction of both molecules in MPM that will demonstrate their potential as biomarkers. Augmentation of the current markers in MPM may lead to an earlier diagnosis and management of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Division of General Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Berne, Berne, Switzerland. cortes-dericks@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8748-054X
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cortes-Dericks
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, Division of General Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ralph Alexander
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Biomarker; CD44; Hyaluronan; Malignant pleural mesothelioma