Expression of E-cadherin, and CD44s and CD44v6 and its association with prognosis in head and neck cancer

• Published in: Auris, nasus, larynx Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 35 - 41
• Main Authors: Kawano, Toshirou, Nakamura, Yoshiyasu, Yanoma, Shunsuke, Kubota, Akira, Furukawa, Madoka, Miyagi, Youhei, Tsukuda, Mamoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cadherins - metabolism; CD44 variants; Cell Adhesion; E-cadherin; Female; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Head and neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; Head and Neck Neoplasms - mortality; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Hyaluronan Receptors - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - metabolism; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - mortality; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Prognosis; Regression Analysis; Survival Rate; Immunohistochemistry; CD44 variants; Head and neck cancer; Prognosis; E-cadherin
• ISSN: 0385-8146; 1879-1476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2003.09.005

Objectives: In the current study, the expression of E-cadherin, CD44s, and CD44v6 has been noted as markers for tumor metastasis and prognosis in several tumors, so we examined whether or not E-cadherin, CD44s, and CD44v6 are useful markers for evaluating the prognosis of mesopharyngeal cancer patients. Methods: The expression of E-cadherin, CD44s, and CD44v6, was evaluated immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies against epitopes of standard and variant proteins, in paraffin-embedded mesopharyngeal cancer tissues from 57 patients who had received curative therapy. Results: Tumor tissues from 47 (82.5%) patients showed positive immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibody against E-cadherin, 43 (75.4%) patients showed positive expression with CD44, and 45 (78.9%) patients showed positive expression with CD44v6. The expression of CD44v6 was slightly correlated with tumor volume, and lymph node metastasis, and stage classification ( P>0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the expression of E-cadherin, CD44s and CD44v6 and clinicopathological characteristics. Concerning the prognosis, the survival period of patients with CD44s positive tumors was shorter than that of patients with CD44s negative tumors (18.2% versus 52.1%, 5-year survival, P<0.05). The survival period of patients with CD44v6 positive tumors was also shorter than that of patients with CD44v6 negative tumors (12.8% versus 55.6%, 5-year survival, P<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that CD44v6 may be related to tumor invasion and metastasis, and both CD44s and CD44v6 may be useful markers for poor prognosis in head and neck cancer.