Expression of cell adhesion molecule CD44 in human gastric cancer. A correlation with P53 and Rb proteins, the HLA-DR antigen and the proliferative activity

The expression of the CD44 standard (CD44s) was examined immunohistochemica lly in a series of 61 gastric adenocarcinomas and analyzed the relation wit h the expression of HLA-DR antigen, the p53 and Rb protein expression, the proliferation indices Ki-67 and PCNA as well as with conventional clinicopa thological variables. CD44s immunoreactivity was detected in 47.6% of the c ases. The incidence of CD44s expression did not differ among histological t ypes of carcinomas. CD44s expression was significantly related to depth of invasion (p=0.03) and to Ki-67 positive rate (p=0.018). A trend for correla tion with vessel invasion was also observed (p=0.06). The relation of CD44 expression with the other studied variables was insignificant. These data s uggest that CD44s may have a major role as adhesion molecule in the progres sion of gastric carcinomas. In addition, the expression of CD44s is associa ted with proliferation, suggesting that in gastric cancer CD44s may have a role in tumor cell growth.