CD44s and CD44v6 Are Predominantly Expressed in the Non-germinal Center B-Cell-like Type of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas

BACKGROUND: CD44 protein is known as a homing cellular adhesion molecule that is linked to diverse cellular functions such as adhesion, migration and invasion, which are all important in cancer progression and metastasis. The expression of CD44 standard and variant isoforms (CD44 standard isoform [CD44s] and CD44 splice variants containing exon v6 [CD44v6], respectively) is associated with an unfavorable clinical outcome in various neoplasms. METHODS: Forty patients who were diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) through biopsy at Hanyang University Hospital between 1996 and 2003 were included in this study. CD44 proteins expression was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining on a tissue microarray and the correlation of CD44 with the types of DLBCL and clinical parameters, including the factors defined by the International Prognostic Index, was evaluated. RESULTS: A high CD44s and intermediate to strong CD44v6 expression, including cytoplasmic membranous staining patterns, was present in 35% (14/40) and 25% (10/40) of DLBCL patients, respectively. High CD44s expression was correlated significantly with non-germinal center B-cell-like types (non-GCB, p=0.004) and patients with old age (p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: High CD44s expression may be significantly associated with the non-GCB type compared to the GCB type and may be essential to the prediction of disease outcome in tumor stage III in DLBCL patients.

Expression of the Transmembrane Glycoprotein CD44s Is Potentially an Independent Predictor of Recurrence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cluster differentiation 44 standard isoform (CD44s) is a transmembrane glycoprotein. CD44s is a known prognostic factor in various cancers, due to its involvement in tumor cell growth, invasion and metastasis. Its prognostic role, however, is debated because it can be a positive or negative prognostic factor depending on tumor type and is still an ambiguous prognostic indicator in other cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the relationship between CD44s expression and survival in HCC patients. METHODS: A total of 260 HCC samples were collected to generate a tissue microarray. Staining of the arrays with a primary mouse CD44s monoclonal antibody was followed by evaluation of the relationship between CD44s expression and tumor differentiation. The effect of CD44s expression on patient survival was analyzed. RESULTS: CD44s protein expression correlated with histological grade (most and worst Edmondson grade) of the HCC (p=0.029 and p=0.039, respectively) and adversely affected the disease free survival period based on univariate and multivariate analyses (p=0.038 and p=0.077, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: High CD44s protein expression correlates with shorter disease free survival and poorly differentiated HCC. CD44s-targeted therapy may be efficacious for HCC treatment in the future.