The role of CD24 in ovarian carcinoma

Choi, Sang Joon; Lim, Sung Chul

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
CD24 is a small heavily glycosylated glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked cell surface protein, which is expressed in hematologic malignancies as well as in a large variety of solid tumors. It appears to function as a ligand of P-selectin, an adhesion molecule that is present in activated platelets and endothelial cells. The authors aimed to evaluate CD24 expression in adenoma and adenocarcinoma of ovary to correlate to clinicopathologic data.
METHODS
Benign and malignant ovarian tumors were stained immunohistochemically. The staining was evaluated as stainability (negative, weak-, moderate-, strong-positive) and staining patterns (membranous vs. intracytoplasmic) for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
A highly significant association of cytoplasmic CD24 expression with adenocarcinoma of the ovary compared to the adenoma group of this organ. The stainability and positive rate of CD24 in adenocarcinoma group was much higher than in adenoma group, but it was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
The intracytoplasmic staining pattern of CD24 was an important molecular marker for ovarian epithelial neoplasm which could help to define malignant transformation.