Expression of CD44 splicing isoforms in lung cancers: dominant expression of CD44v8-10 in non-small cell lung carcinomas

• Published in: International journal of oncology Vol. 12; no. 3; p. 525
• Main Authors: Sasaki, J I, Tanabe, K K, Takahashi, K, Okamoto, I, Fujimoto, H, Matsumoto, M, Suga, M, Ando, M, Saya, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece 01.03.1998
• Subjects: Aged; Alternative Splicing; Antigens, CD - analysis; Antigens, CD - biosynthesis; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - immunology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Small Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Small Cell - pathology; Female; Humans; Hyaluronan Receptors - analysis; Hyaluronan Receptors - biosynthesis; Immunohistochemistry; Lung Diseases - immunology; Lung Diseases - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - immunology; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Smoking; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 1019-6439
• DOI: 10.3892/ijo.12.3.525

We examined CD44 isoform expression in 138 frozen tissue samples, which included primary lung carcinomas, adjacent non-tumorous lung tissues and benign lung diseases, by both reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analyses. CD44v8-10 mRNA and protein were dominantly expressed in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), while non-tumorous tissues principally expressed CD44s and small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) expressed either CD44s or no detectable CD44. These results indicate that CD44v8-10 is the dominant splicing isoform in NSCLC and can be practically utilized as a diagnostic marker and therapeutical target in NSCLC.