EXPRESSION OF CD44 AND VARIANT ISOFORMS IN CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA

The cell adhesion molecule CD44 and its variant isoforms have been fou nd to be related to invasive and metastatic character of cancer cells. Their expression in gynecologic precancerous lesions has not yet been reported. Mouse monoclonal antibodies directed against a common epito pe (CD44s) and exons 4v, 6v, and 9v were used to study the expression of CD44 and variant isoforms by immunohistochemistry in cervical intra epithelial neoplasia (CIN). Twenty tissue samples with normal cervical epithelium and 57 samples with CIN of different histological grades a nd different HPV status were included in this study. The standard CD44 , CD44-4v, CD34-6v, and CD44-9v were expressed in normal cervical epit helium and in precancerous lesions. In distinct contrast to the normal epithelium, however, the standard CD44, CD44-4v, and 6v showed a redu ced expression in precancerous lesions, whereas CD44-9v was significan tly overexpressed. Expression of CD44 standard and CD44-4v was correla ted with the histological grade but not with the HPV status. Compared with mild and moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia and carcinoma in si tu are associated with low expression of CD44s (P = 0.007) and of CD44 -4v (P = 0.03). These observations reveal dynamic changes in CD44 expr ession during neoplastic cell transformation in cervical intra-epithel ial neoplasia. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.