Relationship Between Expression of CD44V6 and Lung Neoplasm Metastasis

Objective To observe the expression of CD44V6 and its association with lung carcinomas metastasis.Methods Paraffin embedded tissues from 85 cases of primary lung carcinomas and 15 cases of metastatic lymph nodes were investigated for expression of CD44V6 by immunohistochemistry(S P method).Results There was no expression in all 5 cases of SCLC.Positive rate of CD44V6 expression in stageⅠ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ and Ⅳ of non small lung carcinoma was 30.0%、52.4%、64.0% and 84.2%,respectively.There was a distinct statistical difference between stage Ⅰ、Ⅱ and stage Ⅲ、Ⅳ,between stage Ⅳ and stage Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ( P 0.01, P 0.05).Primary lung carcinoma with lymph node metastasis showed higher expression of CD44V6 compared with that without lymph node metastasis(χ 2=7.25, P 0.01).There was no obvious difference in expressions of CD44V6 of metastasis lesion between stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅳ(χ 2=2.27, P 0.05).The expression of CD44V6 was associated with tumor differentiation,but didn't relate to pathological type and clinical parameter.Conclusion Expression of CD44V6 is associated with clinical stage of lung cancer;CD44V6 positive expression may suggest a potential of high risk for lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.