The Relationships Between Loss of Standard CD44 Expression and Lymph Node, Liver Metastasis in T3 Colorectal Carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the standard CD44 (CD44s) expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) with invasion to the subserosal layer (T3), its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics, and its potential metastatic significance.

Materials and methods: CD44s expression was measured on immunohistochemistry in tumors from 65 patients with primary colorectal carcinomas. CD44s expression was estimated at the deepest invaded area of the tumor in subserosal layer.

Results: CD44s was demonstrated in 35.4% (23/65). CD44s expression showed no significant relationship with the clinicopathological characteristics such as age, gender, tumor location, tumor size, and macroscopic/microscopic classification. However, the CD44s expression showed significantly adverse relationship with lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05) and liver metastasis (p < 0.01), respectively.

Conclusion: The loss of CD44s expression in cancer cells in the deepest invaded area is a good marker for predicting potential metastasis to lymph nodes and liver in T3 CRC.