Expression of CD44s in human colorectal cancer

Evaluation of CD44s, CD44v6, CXCR2, CXCL1, and IL-1β in Benign and Malignant Tumors of Salivary Glands

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported an association between high expression of CD44 in different types of cancer. However, no study has reported a link among CD44 expression, other biomarkers, and the aggressiveness of salivary gland tumors.

METHODS

A total of 38 specimens were obtained from non-tumorous salivary glands, benign and malignant tumors in salivary glands. Immunohistochemical analyses of CD44s, CD44v6, IL-1β, CXCL1, and CXCR2 were performed, and the area of positive cells was assessed.

RESULTS

We found that both CD44s and CXCR2 expression were increased in the benign and malignant groups. CD44v6 was also increased in both groups, but it had the highest level in the malignant group. IL-1β was the only biomarker that increased significantly in the malignant group in comparison to the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CD44s, CD44v6, CXCR2, and IL-1β expressions were found to be higher in salivary gland tumors. However, IL-1β alone may play a crucial role in the aggressiveness of salivary gland tumors as this cytokine was expressed only in the malignant group with high expression associated with high-grade malignancy.

Cancerous and non-neoplastic stem cells in the stomach similarly express CD44 and CD133

CD44 and CD133 have been considered as cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. Stem cell markers are rarely described in healthy stomach tissues. However, the clinicopathological and prognostic value of CD44 and CD133 in gastric cancer remains controversial. This study investigated the expression of CD44 and CD133 in gastric cancer and non-neoplastic gastric mucosa. We used samples of primary gastric adenocarcinomas (n = 69), metastatic lymph nodes (n = 30), intestinal metaplasia (n = 17), and histologically normal gastric tissues of surgical margins (n = 54). The expression of CD44 and CD133 were studied in samples by immunohistochemistry. Fisher's exact test and a logistic regression model were used in this study. CD44 expression was observed in 12% of samples with intestinal metaplasia, 20% with lymph node metastases, 22% with normal mucosa, to 30% of samples with primary tumors. Most of these positive tumors showed immunostaining in less than 4% of cancerous cells, mainly in the diffuse type. CD133 expression was observed in 7% (intestinal metaplasia) to 46% (normal mucosa). In the positive cases of cancer (24%), in most of them, less than 3% of cells were marked. CD44 and CD133 expression in the histologically normal gastric mucosa was restricted to the deeper regions of the gastric crypts at the level where stem cells and progenitor cells are usually found. CD44 and CD133 expression occurs in few gastric cancer cells, mainly in diffuse carcinomas, and are expressed in histologically normal gastric mucosae. None of the markers are specific for cancer and are also present in intestinal metaplasia and the normal mucosa.

Detection of Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer: Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence supports the notion that the onset of tumorigenesis could occur through cancer stem cells (CSCs). These tumour cells show low proliferative rates, high self-renewal capacity, propensity to differentiate into active proliferating tumour cells & resistance to chemoradiotherapy thus, possibly causing local recurrences & metastasis formation. CD44 has been used as a marker to isolate CSCs from colorectal carcinoma (CRC).

AIM

To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of cancer stem cells marker (CD44) in CRC and correlate its expression with the clinicopathological aspects, TNM staging and modified Dukes' classification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tumour biopsies from colectomy specimens of 60 patients with CRC were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histological evaluation then immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against CD44 which was detected in term of negative or positive expression.

RESULTS

CD44 was demonstrated in 58.3% (35/60) of cases and showed statistically significant correlation with tumour site and histological type (p-value < 0.05). However, CD44 showed statistically insignificant inverse correlation with tumour invasiveness (T), lymph node status (N), grade, TNM stage grouping and modified Dukes' classification, while it was directly correlated with distant metastasis (M) (p-value > 0.05). Chi-square /Fisher exact test proportion independence and the p-value are set significant at 0.05 level.

CONCLUSION

the CD44 rate of expression is higher in the colon than rectum and in adenocarcinoma than mucinous and undifferentiated carcinoma. CD44 showed statistically insignificant relation with T, N, M, grade, TNM stage grouping and modified Dukes' classification.

Evaluation of the correlation of KAI1/CD82, CD44, MMP7 and β-catenin in the prediction of prognosis and metastasis in colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

To investigate the relationship of KAI1/CD82, CD44, matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) and β-catenin, and examine its association with clinicopathological features, metastasis and prognosis in colorectal carcinoma (CRC).

METHODS

Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was used to detect the expression of KAI1/CD82, CD44, MMP7 and β-catenin in 174 archival surgical specimens of human CRC. Furthermore, clinicopathological features such as age, sex and so on were also collected retrospectively.

RESULTS

CD44, MMP7 and β-catenin expression was positively associated with distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. However, decreased KAI1/CD82 expression correlated significantly with distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. KAI1/CD82 expression showed a negative correlation with CD44, MMP7 and β-catenin. Furthermore, β-catenin expression showed a positive correlation with CD44 and MMP7. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that KAI1/CD82 and β-catenin expression were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and KAI1/CD82 was significantly associated with distant metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that CD44, MMP7 and β-catenin expression was negatively correlated with overall survival (OS), while KAI1/CD82 expression was positively correlated with OS. Low KAI1/CD82 expression and high expression of CD44, MMP7 and β-catenin was associated with a poor prognosis in CRC. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the expression of KAI1/CD82, MMP7 and β-catenin were independent predictors of OS in CRC.

CONCLUSION

The expression of KAI1/CD82, CD44, MMP7 and β-catenin is related to tumor metastasis and prognosis in CRC. Combined detection of these factors may be of significant value in predicting the prognosis and metastasis in CRC patients.

Characteristics of CD44 alternative splice pattern in the course of human colorectal adenocarcinoma progression

BACKGROUND

CD44 is considered as 'a' metastasis associated gene, despite the fact that it is an umbrella term for a group of molecules produced from a single gene by alternative splicing. However, little consideration is given to the above in the literature of colorectal carcinomas as well as other tumour types, leading to confusion and contradictory results about its possible role in tumour progression.

METHODS

We compared the CD44 alternative splice pattern (ASP) of three genetically different human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT25, HT29, HCT116) using a series of PCR reactions and next- generation sequencing method, as well as identified a colorectal adenocarcinoma specific CD44 ASP. This ASP was further investigated in terms of its qualitative and quantitative stability in our experimental iso- and xenograft mouse models for colorectal cancer progression. A complex preclinical experimental set-up was established to separately test the different steps of tumour progression and the role of tumour microenvironment, respectively, focusing on the role of 'CD44' in this process.

RESULTS

We managed to present a colorectal cancer-specific CD44 ASP, which remained unchanged from cell lines throughout primary tumour formation and metastatic progression. Furthermore, we report a unique roster of all expressed CD44 variant isoforms characteristic to colorectal cancer. Finally, on quantitative assessment of the variable exons v3 and v6, higher co-expression levels were found to be characteristic to metastatically potent tumour cells.

CONCLUSION

Particular CD44 variant isoforms seem to act as "metastasis genes" via tumour microenvironment-driven shifts in v3 and v6 expressions. However, this function may just affect a minority of tumour subclones. This fact and the huge potential number of different CD44 splice variants that can contain v3 and v6 domains can explain incoherence of clinical studies regarding functional asessment of CD44 variants, as well as diminish the chances of using CD44 variants for predictive purpose.

CD44s expression in resectable colorectal carcinomas and surrounding mucosa

BACKGROUND

CD44s (standard isoform) is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to the family of the hyaluronan-binding proteins. The CD44 family has been found to be overexpressed in epithelial tumors, where they are generally in relationship with tumor growth and metastasic properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the membranous CD44s content in colorectal cancer and in healthy surrounding mucosa, its possible relationship with clinicopathological parameters, and its potential prognostic significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Membranous CD44s levels were measured by an immunoenzymatic assay in tumors and surrounding mucosa samples from 72 patients with resectable colorectal carcinomas. The patients were followed for a mean time period of 30 months.

RESULTS

There was a wide variability of CD44s levels in tumor-surrounding mucosal samples (26.6-727 ng/mg protein) as well as in tumors (28.5-381 ng/mg protein). Tumor samples showed significantly higher CD44s levels (median: 99.1 ng/mg protein) than surrounding mucosal samples (81 ng/mg protein) (p=0.03). In the same way, CD44s levels in tumors as well as in surrounding mucosal samples were significantly higher in high S-phase tumors than in low S-phase tumors (p=0.001 for both). There was no significant relationship between tumor CD44s levels and patient's outcome. However, high levels of the glycoprotein in nonneoplastic surrounding mucosa were significantly (p=0.018) associated with a poor overall patient survival.

CONCLUSION

CD44s may play a role in the tumorogenesis of colorectal carcinomas. In addition, CD44s levels in tumor-surrounding mucosa may provide, in concert with some clinicopathological parameters, important information about prognostic evaluation of patients with resectable colorectal carcinomas.

Hyaluronan: genetic insights into the complex biology of a simple polysaccharide

It is appropriate that this review should appear in a volume dedicated to Mert Bernfield. Much of my interest in the cell biology of the extracellular matrix, particularly during development, echoes Mert's pioneering studies. His kind but provocative questioning during meetings is especially missed. The glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan is ubiquitous, and is especially abundant during embryogenesis. Hydrated matrices rich in hyaluronan expand the extracellular space, facilitating cell migration. The viscoelastic properties of hyaluronan are also essential for proper function of cartilage and joints. Recent understanding of hyaluronan biology has benefited from the identification of genes encoding hyaluronan synthases and hyaluronidases, genetic analysis of the roles of hyaluronan during development, elucidation of the biochemical mechanisms of hyaluronan synthesis, and by studies of human genetics and tumors. This review focuses on recent studies utilizing hyaluronan-deficient, gene targeted mice with null alleles for the principal source of hyaluronan during mid-gestation, hyaluronan synthase-2 (has-2).