THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXPRESSION OF CD44 VARIANT-6 AND PROGNOSIS IN COLORECTAL-CANCER

CD44 variant 6 (CD44 v6) is well known as a useful marker of tumor pro gression; however, its relationship to prognosis has not yet been eluc idated. Tn this study, we investigated the expression of CD44 v6 in co lorectal cancer to analyze its relationship to hepatic metastasis as w ell as to prognosis. Tumor tissues were obtained from 42 patients with colorectal cancer who under,vent curative resection with follow-up pe riods ranging from 5.9 to 71.3 months, There were 21 patients (50%),wh ose tumors were positive for CD44 v6, with no significant difference b etween colon and rectal cancer, CD44 v6 staining was significantly rel ated to Dukes' classification as well as to hepatic metastasis. The 5- year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with CD44 v6 n egative cancer (84%) than in those with CD44 v6 positive cancer (31%). Thus, rye concluded that CD44 v6 could be a reliable prognostic indic ator, as web as a predictor of metastatic potential after curative sur gery for colorectal cancer.