Korean J Pathol.  2010 Feb;44(1):35-41.

CD44 and MMP14 Expression Associated with WHO Grade of the Astrocytoma and the Prognostic Implications

• Myung J
• Jang B
• Park HS
• Yon W
• Lee HJ
• Park SH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
CD44 is a cell surface receptor that has been implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis in a range of tumors of various organs, including breast, ovary, colon, lung, and brain. CD44 stimulates the invasive ability by interacting with matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14). The expression of MMP14 on the cell surface is thought to trigger multiple proteinase cascades and to stimulate cell migration.
METHODS
A total 54 astrocytoma patients were eligible for this study. We performed a retrospective clinicopathological review and CD44 and MMP14 immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
The expressions of CD44 and MMP14 were significantly correlated with the World Health Organization (WHO) grade. On univariate analysis, the WHO grade and the expression of CD44 were the significant prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) and disease progression free survival (DPFS). On the multivariate analysis by the Cox regression model, the only WHO grade was shown to be a significant independent prognostic factor for predicting the DPFS and OS.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the CD44 and MMP14 expressions were related to the WHO grade of astrocytoma. The CD44 expression status was a prognostic factor for DPFS and OS on univariate analysis, but it was not an independent prognostic factor on the multivariate analysis.

Keyword

Astrocytoma; Antigens, CD44; Matrix metalloproteinase 14; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Antigens, CD44
Astrocytoma
Brain
Breast
Colon
Disease Progression
Female
Humans
Lung
Matrix Metalloproteinase 14
Multivariate Analysis
Neoplasm Metastasis
Ovary
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
World Health Organization
Antigens, CD44
Matrix Metalloproteinase 14