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CD44H expression in reactive mesothelium, pleural mesothelioma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma
Author(s) -
ATTANOOS R.L.,
WEBB R.,
GIBBS A.R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.1997.d01-590.x
Subject(s) - mesothelium , mesothelioma , pathology , immunohistochemistry , adenocarcinoma , mesothelial cell , mucin , medicine , pulmonary adenocarcinoma , pleural disease , hyaluronic acid , respiratory disease , lung , anatomy , cancer
Malignant mesotheliomas are known to produce hyaluronic acid, in contrast to most pulmonary adenocarcinomas which produce neutral mucin. CD44H is the major cell surface receptor for hyaluronic acid. The aim of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically the expression of this antigen in reactive mesothelium, pleural mesothelioma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma and to assess its diagnostic utility in distinguishing the two tumours. Diffuse and intense membranous CD44H immunoreactivity was seen in 15 of 20 (75%) mesotheliomas and in all 20 biopsies of reactive mesothelium. In contrast, focal (<10% tumour) expression of CD44H was seen in only three of 20 (15%) pulmonary adenocarcinomas. We advocate the use of CD44H as a positive mesothelial marker for incorporation alongside other established immunohistochemical markers used to distinguish mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma.