Head and Neck

CD44 variant isoforms in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression†‡

  1. Steven J. Wang MD1,*,
  2. Gabriel Wong BS2,
  3. Anne-Martine de Heer MD1,
  4. Weiliang Xia PhD2,
  5. Lilly Y.W. Bourguignon PhD2

Article first published online: 8 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/lary.20506

Issue

The Laryngoscope

The Laryngoscope

Volume 119, Issue 8, pages 1518–1530, August 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Wang, S. J., Wong, G., de Heer, A.-M., Xia, W. and Bourguignon, L. Y. (2009), CD44 variant isoforms in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression. The Laryngoscope, 119: 1518–1530. doi: 10.1002/lary.20506

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California–San Francisco, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

  2. 2

    Department of Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

*4150 Clement St., 112B, San Francisco, CA 94121

  1. †

    This work was supported by a Veterans Affairs Career Development Award (SJW), American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery/American Head and Neck Society Young Investigator Award (S.J.W.), National Institutes of Health Grants RO1 CA66163, RO1, and PO1 AR39448 from the USPHS (L.Y.W.B.), and a Veterans Affairs Merit Review grant (L.Y.W.B.).

  2. ‡

    This Manuscript was submitted as a candidate's Triologic Thesis (S.J.W.).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 JUL 2009
  2. Article first published online: 8 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 26 MAR 2009

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Keywords:

  • Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma;
  • CD44;
  • hyaluronan

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The CD44 family of receptors includes multiple variant isoforms, several of which have been linked to malignant properties including migration, invasion, and metastasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the CD44 v3, v6, and v10 variant isoforms in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumor progression behaviors.

Study Design:

Laboratory study involving cell cultures and clinical tissue specimens.

Methods:

Analysis of the expression of standard CD44s and the CD44 variant isoforms v3, v6, and v10 was carried out in the HNSCC cell line, HSC-3. The role of CD44 isoforms in migration, proliferation, and cisplatin resistance was determined. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on clinical tissue specimens obtained from a series of 82 HNSCC patients. The expression of standard CD44s and the CD44 v3, v6, and v10 variants in primary tumor specimens (n = 82) and metastatic cervical lymph nodes (n = 24) were analyzed with respect to various clinicopathologic variables.

Results:

HSC-3 cells express at least four CD44 isoforms, and these CD44 isoforms mediate migration, proliferation, and cisplatin sensitivity. Compared with primary tumors, a greater proportion of metastatic lymph nodes demonstrated strong expression of CD44 v3 (lymph node 14/24 vs. primary tumor 38/82), CD44 v6 (lymph node 18/24 vs. primary tumor 26/82), and CD44 v10 (lymph node 14/24 vs. primary tumor 16/82), while expression of standard CD44 was not significantly different in metastatic lymph nodes and primary tumors (lymph node 10/24 vs. primary tumor 60/82). Expression of CD44 variant isoforms were associated with advanced T stage (v3 and v6), regional (v3) and distant (v10) metastasis, perineural invasion (v6), and radiation failure (v10). CD44 v6 and CD44 v10 were also significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival.

Conclusions:

CD44 isoforms mediate migration, proliferation, and cisplatin sensitivity in HNSCC. Furthermore, expression of certain CD44 variants may be important molecular markers for HNSCC progression and should be investigated as potential therapeutic targets for therapy. Laryngoscope, 2009

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