EXPRESSION OF VARIANT CD44, EXON-6 IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC PULMONARY TUMOR

High expression ratios of CD44 variant 6 (CD44 V6) in patients with me tastatic pulmonary tumor were found in those with primary lesions of c ancer of the colon, uterus, larynx, liver and osteosarcoma. It was cla rified that patients showing expression of CD44 variant 6 likely revea led pulmonary metastasis at earlier time following operations of prima ry cancer (p<0.05). CD44 V6, an adhesion molecule, was a factor to par ticipate in pulmonary metastases from various organ cancers. No signif icant correlation was observed in survival between patients with CD44 V6 positive versus negative tumors, except laryngeal tumor after resec tion of primary or metastatic lung tumor. CD44 V6 related to its invas ive and further metastatic functions in metastatic lung tumor. We sugg est that cancer cells expressing the CD44 molecule especially V6 may a dhere to vascular endothelium and hyaluronic acid in the lung. And can cer cells without this molecule liberated from the primary focuses har dly adhere to the pulmonary tissues supposedly resulting in delayed me tastases and proliferations in the pulmonary tissues.