Significance of Expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in Colorectal Cancer

  • Kim, Doo-Jin (Department of General Surgery School of Medicine, Keimyung University) ;
  • Bae, Ok-Suk (Department of General Surgery School of Medicine, Keimyung University) ;
  • Kim, Yong-Hoon (Department of General Surgery School of Medicine, Keimyung University) ;
  • Park, Sung-Dae (Department of General Surgery School of Medicine, Keimyung University)
  • Published : 2002.09.01

Abstract

The expression of CD44v is known as a marker of cancer progression and its metastasis in colorectal cancer. It has been known that CD44 variant containing sequences encoded by exon 11 (v6) confer metastatic potential to human colorectal cancer cells. The role of CD44 standard (CD44s) and CD44v6 in colorectal cancer was investigated in this study by immunohistochemical staining of the primary tumors obtained from the colorectal cancer patients. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in 40 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent curative surgery at Keimyung University hospital. The expression CD44s and CD44v6 was observed in 24/40 (60%) and 13/40 (32.5%) respectively. The expression of CD44v6 had correlation with TNM stage (P<0.05), however CD44s had not any correlation with clinicopathological parameters. These results suggest that CD44v6 expression may give an information for tumor progression than decreased expression of CD44s in colorectal cancer cells.

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