The Prognostic Values of CD44v6 Overexpression in Node Negative Gastric Cancer

Kim, Seung Ho; Lee, Jeong Kyun; Yun, Ki Jung

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The CD44 serves as an adhesion-molecule in cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions and is involved in lymphocyte homing, cell migration, and cancer metastasis. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between CD44v6 overexpression and histologic prognostic factors such as the depth of invasion, histologic differentiation, and lymphovascular invasion, and to evaluate the clinical value as a prognostic factor of CD44v6 in node-negative gastric cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining of CD44v6 was performed in 78 patients with node-negative gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy. The case that over half of carcinoma cells was stained, was regarded as overexpression, and the case that less than half was stained, was regarded as low expression. The relationship between CD44v6 overexpression and the depth of invasion, histologic differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, and 5-year survival rate of patients was analysed. RESULTS: The CD44v6 overexpression was found in 17 cases (21.8%) of the 78 patients. There was no significant correlation between CD44v6 overexpression and the depth of invasion, histologic differentiation, and lymphovascular invasion. However, 5-year survival rate was lower in 17 cases of CD44v6 overexpression (64.7%) than in 61 cases of CD44v6 low expression (86.9%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CD44v6 overexpression could be useful as a prognostic factor in node-negative gastric cancer.