Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Original Articles

CD44 and MMP14 Expression Associated with WHO Grade of the Astrocytoma and the Prognostic Implications.: Jaekyung Myung, Bogun Jang, Heae Surng Park, Woongjae Yon, Hyun Ju Lee, Sung Hye Park; Korean J Pathol. 2010;44(1):35-41.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2010.44.1.35

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
CD44 is a cell surface receptor that has been implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis in a range of tumors of various organs, including breast, ovary, colon, lung, and brain. CD44 stimulates the invasive ability by interacting with matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14). The expression of MMP14 on the cell surface is thought to trigger multiple proteinase cascades and to stimulate cell migration.
METHODS
A total 54 astrocytoma patients were eligible for this study. We performed a retrospective clinicopathological review and CD44 and MMP14 immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
The expressions of CD44 and MMP14 were significantly correlated with the World Health Organization (WHO) grade. On univariate analysis, the WHO grade and the expression of CD44 were the significant prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) and disease progression free survival (DPFS). On the multivariate analysis by the Cox regression model, the only WHO grade was shown to be a significant independent prognostic factor for predicting the DPFS and OS.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the CD44 and MMP14 expressions were related to the WHO grade of astrocytoma. The CD44 expression status was a prognostic factor for DPFS and OS on univariate analysis, but it was not an independent prognostic factor on the multivariate analysis.

Expressions of CD44s Is Associated with the Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers.: Sung Jig Lim, Hyun Jung Kim, Jung Yeon Kim, Kyeongmee Park; Korean J Pathol. 2006;40(1):17-23.

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
The overexpression of Cox-2 in tumors is important for tumor invasion, angiogenesis, resistance to apoptosis and the suppression of host immunity. Moreover, a tumor's CD44 expression plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. We examined the expression of COX-2 and also CD44 and its variants as well as the biological implications and relationship between Cox-2 and the CD44 variants in non-small cell lung carcinoma.
METHODS
The expressions of Cox-2 and also CD44s and its variants (CD44v3 and CD44v6) were examined by performing immunohistochemistry on 98 surgical specimens.
RESULTS
The expressions of CD44s, CD44v3 and CD44v6 were significantly more frequent in squamous cell carcinoma specimens than in the adenocarcinoma (CD44s, p=0.033; CD44v3, p=0.007; CD44v6, p=0.022). The loss of CD44s and CD44v3 were significantly correlated with poor tumor differentiation (CD44s, p=0.03; CD44v3, p=0.011). Patients with Cox-2 positive-adenocarcinoma tumors had a significantly worse cumulative survival than did those adenocarcinoma patients without the Cox-2 (p=0.048). The expression of Cox-2 was significantly associated with the CD44s expression in non-small cell lung cancer, and especially in squamous cell carcinoma.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that expression of CD44s is associated with the expression of Cox-2 in NSCLC, and especially squamous cell carcinoma.

Expression of CD44 Isoforms and Its Significance in Renal Cell Carcinoma.: Ghil Suk Yoon, Hee Yeon Hong, Tae Sook Kim; Korean J Pathol. 2005;39(4):251-257.

Abstract PDF: Background
: CD44 is a transmembranous glycoprotein that participates in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and it also contributes to cell migration. In vitro studies have suggested that the expression of CD44 isoforms is associated with tumor metastasis. Since it is not clear whether the CD44 isoforms play a role in the tumorigenesis, differentiation, progression or metastasis of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Methods : We performed immunohistochemistry with primary antibodies for the standard CD44 (CD44s) and the CD44 variant exon 6 (CD44v6) on the archival paraffin-embedded tissue microarray (TMA) specimens from 51 RCC patients. Results : In the normal kidney, the expressions of both CD44s and CD44v6 were negligible. The CD44s expression was increased in accordance with the tumor size (p<0.01), but it was not related to the microvessel density (MVD). No CD44v6 expression was observed in all RCC cases. Univariate analysis indicated that stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and distant organ metastasis were the statistically significant prognostic factors for disease free survival (DFS) (p<0.01), and the multivariate analysis proved that stage (p<0.01) and tumor size (p<0.05) were the independent prognostic factors for DFS. Conclusions : Our results suggest that CD44s, but not CD44v6, plays a role in tumor progression and it could be a potential prognostic factor for patients with RCCs.

Clinicopathologic Significance of CD44s, CD44v5 and CD44v6 Expression in Non Small Cell Lung Carcinomas.: Jae Kyun Kim, Chang Hun Lee, Kyeong Min Lee, Jin Mi Song; Korean J Pathol. 2004;38(2):93-99.

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
CD44 is a polymorphic family of transmembrane glycoproteins generated by alternative splicing of messenger RNA and is involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion and metastasis.
METHODS
The expression of selected CD44 molecules (CD44s, CD44v5, and CD44v6) was determined immunohistochemically in 84 cases of non small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). The results were compared with PCNA index, microvessel density (MVD), and clinicopathological parameters including patient? survival.
RESULTS
CD44s showed a positive reaction in 61.9% (52/84) of NSCLCs, CD44v5 in 73.8% (62/84), and CD44v6 in 39.3% (33/84). Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) displayed preferential expression of all CD44 molecules in comparison with adenocarcinomas (ACs) (p<0.001). As a whole, the expression of CD44 molecules was not correlated with clinical parameters (stage, TNM-T, and TNM-N), PCNA index, or MVD. For ACs only, however, CD44v5 expression was negatively correlated with PCNA index (p<0.05). Poor survival was correlated with CD44v5 expression in ACs and CD44v6 in SCCs (both, p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that CD44 molecule in NSCLC could be a distinctive phenotypic marker for SCC, and the possibility that CD44v5 and CD44v6 are in some way instrumental in conditioning the biologic behavior of NSCLC according to major histologic types.

Search