[CD44s Cell surface expression in 55 lung adenocarcinomas. Negative correlation with tumor size and CA125 cytosolic...

CD44s belongs to a family of cell adhesion molecules involved in cell adhesion, migration and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. In this work we attempt to study CD44s expression in lung adenocarcinomas and its possible correlation with other clinicobiological parameters.

Using an EIA, cell surface CD44s levels were determined in 55 lung adenocarcinomas, classified according to clinical stage, histological grade, ploidy and cellular S-phase fraction. CA125 cytosolic concentrations were also assayed.

Forty two adenocarcinomas (76.4%) showed CD44s concentrations > 80 ng/mg prot, and did not differ significantly from those observed in 16 normal samples (93.7%). There were no differences in CD44s expression when clinical stage (I: 24/28, II: 6/9 and III: 12/17), lymph node involvement (N = 245/29, N+: 18/26), ploidy (diploid: 3/5, aneuploid: 32/39), histological grade (I: 6/7, III: 18/26) and cellular S-phase (> 8.8%: 24/31, < or = 8.8%: 17/24) were considered. Positive CD44s tumors had lower CA125 (p: 0.0072) cytosolic levels and a reduced tumor size (p: 0.0093).

CD44s expressions in lung adenocarcinomas did not correlate with any clinicobiological parameters, but there was a negative correlation between this and reduced tumor size and lower CA125 cytosolic levels.