EXPRESSION OF CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE CD44 AND SIALYL-LEWIS-A IN GASTRIC-CARCINOMA AND COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA IN ASSOCIATION WITH HEPATIC METASTASIS

To clarify the role of the expression of adhesive molecules [CD44 (sta ndard form) and sialyl Lewis A (sialyl Le(a))] on hepatic metastasis, 108 advanced gastric carcinomas and 94 advanced colorectal carcinomas were investigated immunohistochemically. Multivariate analysis demonst rated that CD44 expression and lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer and CD44 and sialyl Le(a) expression in colorectal cancer were signif icantly related to hepatic metastasis. The incidence of hepatic metast asis was highest in patients with the expression of both CD44 and sial yl Le(a). The expression of CD44 standard form as well as sialyl Le(a) may have a major role as adhesion molecules in the process of hepatic metastasis.