Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between the CD44s and CD44v6 expression level and the biological characteristics of a gastric carcinoma.
METHODS
CD44s and CD44v6 expression was investigated in 56 gastric carcinomas, 18 dysplasias, and 22 normal mucosae by immunohischemical staining.
RESULTS
The CD44s and CD44v6 expression rates in gastric carcinomas, dysplasia, and normal mucosae were 80.3% and 83.9%, 72.2% and 77.8%, and 13.6% and 4.5%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed significant difference after comparing a gastric carcinomas and dysplasia to the normal mucosae (p<0.001). The CD44s and CD44v6 expression rates in the cases with invasion to the muscle proper and serosa were 60.7% and 57.1%, and 82.4% and 88.2%, respectively. Both showed a significant statistical difference compared to the expression rates in the cases with invasion to the mucosae and submucosae. The CD44s and CD44v6 expression rates in gastric carcinomas with a lymph node metastasis showed a statistically significant difference compared to those without a lymph node metastasis (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). CD44s and CD44v6 were also expressed in the normal basal cells around gastric carcinomas.
CONCLUSIONS
The CD44s and CD44v6 expression showed a significant relationship with gastric carcinogenesis, toward an aggressive biologic behavior.

• Keywords: Gastric Carcinoma;Dysplasia;CD44s;CD44v6;