Background: The expression of the CDU gene is markedly changed in many neop
lastic tissues. The identification of tumor-specific CD44 expression patter
ns may aid tumor diagnosis.
Methods and Results: The transcription and translation of the CD44 gene wer
e analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), ill
situ hybridization and by immunohistochemistry. Samples were obtained from
24 normal and 24 neoplastic or malignant human cervical tissues. Southern
blot hybridization analysis of RT-PCR products revealed an increase in the
size and number of CD44 standard and variant transcripts in malignant cervi
cal tissues compared with corresponding normal tissues. Misprocessing of mR
NA was indicated in cervical carcinoma cells by the retention of intronic s
equences Multiple CD44 mRNA and protein isoforms were present throughout ca
rcinoma tissues, whereas localization was restricted to the basal epitheliu
m in normal cervical tissue. Analysis of desquamated cervical cells from ca
ses of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia stages I-III showed progressively
deranged patterns of CD44 expression, with more alterations being detected
in the more advanced stages.
Conclusions: Marked alterations in CDW expression occur in cervical tissues
during progression to malignancy. CD44 expression analysis could aid the e
arly diagnosis of cervical malignancy using minimally invasive methods.