Clinicopathological significance of the expression of CD44v2 in colorectalcancer

Expression of CD44 valiant isoforms has been reported to be correlated with faster progression of neoplastic diseases metastasis ann reduced survival period In this study! the correlation between the expression of CD44v2 (v2) or CD44v6 (v6) and clinicopathological features was examined in Dukes B an d C colorectal cancer using immunohistochemistry. V6 expression was not cor related with any clinicopathological indices or-prognosis in either Dukes B or C. On the other hand, v2 expression was correlated significantly with r ecurrence rate and poorer prognosis in Dukes B colorectal cancer although t here was no correlation between v2 expression and prognosis in Dukes C pati ents. The results suggest that v2 is a candidate for a prognostic marker in Dukes B colorectal cancer. CD44v2 expression may be an indication for adop ting adjuvant chemotherapy in patients without lymph node metastasis.