THE EXPRESSION OF CD44V6 IN BREAST-CARCINOMA AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DIFFERENT TUMOR PARAMETERS

BACKGROUND: The variant v6 of CD44 has been associated with metastatic behaviour in neoplasms such as lymphoma, colon carcinoma and breast c arcinoma. The expression of CD44v6 in breast carcinoma by flaw cytomet ry and its relationship with other tumor markers is studied in this pa per. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The expression of CD44v6 was studied in 46 fresh tissue specimens by flow cytometry using a monoclonal antibody w hich recognizes the variant v6. Ploidy and cell cycle were also studie d by flow-cytometry using propidium iodide labelling. p 53, c-erbB-2 a nd estrogen receptor expression as well as cell proliferation by Ki-67 staining were performed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Nineteen ou t of 46 tumors were CD44v6 positive, without correlation with other tu mor markers. Levels of CD44v6 in 19 positive samples slightly correlat es with S-phase and hystological grade. CONCLUSIONS: In the present st udy there was not a correlation among the presence of the variant v6 o f CD44 on tumor cells from breast carcinoma and the aggressivity of th e tumor. The expression of CD44v6 by flow cytometry does not seem to b e a good prognostic marker.