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Expression of CD44v6 in advanced gastric cancer and its relationship to hematogenous metastasis and long‐term prognosis
Author(s) -
Yamaguchi Akio,
Goi Takanori,
Yu Jiren,
Hirono Yasuo,
Ishida Makoto,
Iida Atsushi,
Kimura Toshihisa,
Takeuchi Kazuo,
Katayama Kanji,
Hirose Kazuo
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.10082
Subject(s) - medicine , cd44 , metastasis , cancer , adenocarcinoma , immunohistochemistry , oncology , monoclonal antibody , gastric adenocarcinoma , pathology , antibody , immunology , cell , genetics , biology
Background and Objectives Variants of CD44 have been proposed to be important in promoting tumor progression and metastasis. We attempted to determine the expression of CD44v6 product in advanced gastric cancer and to evaluate its prognostic value. Methods The expression of CD44v6 was analyzed immunohistochemically in advanced gastric cancers using monoclonal antibody, 44‐2V. We investigated the relationship between CD44v6 expression and prognosis in 201 gastric cancer patients. Results Ninety‐five (47.3%) of 201 cancer tissues expressed CD44v6. The expression of CD44v6 protein was significantly higher in differentiated, adenocarcinoma than in diffuse type carcinoma. The CD44v6‐positive cancers were more frequently associated with hematogenous metastasis. There was no significant correlation between CD44v6 immunoreactivity, and prognosis among the combined cases. Among patients with differentiated adenocarcinoma, however, the prognosis was significantly poorer in patients with CD44v6‐positive tumors than in those with CD44v6‐negative tumors. Conclusions CD44v6 protein may have an important role in hematogenous metastasis, and may be a biologic marker of prognostic significance in differentiated type gastric cancers. J. Surg. Oncol. 2002;79:230–235. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.