CD44 ISOFORMS IN METASTATIC CANCER

CD44 designates a large family of proteins generated from one gene by alternative splicing. Variants of CD44 (CD44v) differ from the standar d form (CD44s) by usage of ten variant exons in various combinations. Some variants have been causally related to the metastatic spread of r at tumor cells. In human mammary carcinomas and colorectal carcinomas, the expression of CD44v has also been correlated with more progressed tumor stages. Moreover, the expression of CD44v on mammary and colore ctal carcinomas correlates with a bad prognosis for patient survival. The biochemical features of these CD44 isoforms that may account for b oth their normal functions and their roles in tumor progression are di scussed.