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The CD44 receptor is a molecular predictor of survival in ovarian cancer

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Abstract

Purpose: CD44 is a cell surface receptor implicated in cancer progression and metastases. Malignant tumors may show a loss of CD44 splice control mechanisms. We investigated the role of CD44 splice variant expression in ovarian tumors and metastases, and its association with survival.

Experimental Design: We tested CD44 expression in 142 cases of epithelial carcinoma of the ovary and 265 metastatic sites by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Survival analysis showed that the expression of CD44s, CD44-v4,-v5, -v6, -v9, and -v10 are significant predictors for survival in univariate analysis. After stage, the expression of CD44-v10 in metastases was the strongest predictor of decreased survival in multivariate analysis (p=0.0009). Conversely, CD44-v10 expression in the primary tumor was an independent predictor of improved survival in multivariate analysis (p=0.0002). The expression of CD44s in the tumor/stroma interface of the primary tumor was associated with improved survival (p<0.0001).

Conclusions: CD44 variant expression is a molecular prognostic maker for epithelial ovarian carcinomas. CD44-v10 expression is an independent prognostic indicator and the site of expression determines a positive or negative influence in survival. Our results also indicate that CD44 may be involved in important tumor/stroma interactions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 08901, New Brunswick, NJ

    L. Rodríguez-Rodríguez M.D., Ph.D. (Chief of Gynecologic Oncology) & D. G. Gibbon

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Staten Island University Hospital, 10305, Staten Island, NY

    I. Sancho-Torres

  3. University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

    C. Mesonero & G. Zotalis

  4. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Division of Biometrics, UMDNJ/ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 08901, New Brunswick, NJ

    W. J. Shih

Authors
  1. L. Rodríguez-Rodríguez M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. I. Sancho-Torres
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  3. C. Mesonero
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  4. D. G. Gibbon
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  5. W. J. Shih
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  6. G. Zotalis
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Rodríguez-Rodríguez, L., Sancho-Torres, I., Mesonero, C. et al. The CD44 receptor is a molecular predictor of survival in ovarian cancer. Med Oncol 20, 255–263 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:20:3:255

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/MO:20:3:255

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