ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: CD44 (Cluster Differentiation 44) is an adhesional molecule postulated to play a role in tumor-cell invasion and metastasis. We have evaluated the correlation between the expression of CD44 variant 6 molecule and the prognostic factors in early stage cervical cancer. METHODS: Total sixty five samples of cervical tumor (23 samples of carcinoma in situ, 19 samples of FIGO stage Ia1, 9 samples of stage Ia2, 15 samples of stage Ib1) were immunohistochemically stained for detecting CD44V6 molecule, and which were compared with FIGO stage, invasion depth, gland involvement, lymphovascular space invasion, and keratinized type. RESULTS: CD44V6 was detected in 60 cases (92.3%). Immunoreactivity was decreased in more than 5 mm stromal invasion depth group (p=0.009), and there were no difference in carcinoma in situ, stage Ia1, and stage Ia2. There were no correlation between the expression of CD44 variant 6 molecule and the FIGO stage, gland involvement, lymphovascular space invasion, and keratinized type. CONCLUSION: CD44V6 expression does correlate with early stromal invasion, but does not correlate with other prognostic factors in cervical cancer. CD44V6 expression may play important role in progression of early cervical cancer.