Expression profile of CD44s, CD44v6, and CD44v10 in localized prostate cancer: effect on prognostic outcomes following radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the expression of CD44 standard form (CD44s) and 2 major variant exons (CD44v6 and CD44v10) in localized prostate cancer (PC) to determine the prognostic significance of these markers following radical prostatectomy (RP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Expression levels of CD44s, CD44v6, and CD44v10 in RP specimens from 160 consecutive patients with clinically localized PC were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

Of these 3 markers, expression level of CD44v6 was closely associated with several conventional prognostic factors. Univariate analysis identified CD44v6 expression in addition to serum prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason score, seminal vesicle invasion, and surgical margin status as significant predictors for biochemical recurrence (BR). Of these significant factors, CD44v6 expression, serum prostate-specific antigen level, and surgical margin status appeared to be independently associated with BR on multivariate analysis. We observed significant differences in BR-free survival according to the positive numbers of these 3 independent factors; i.e., BR occurred in 0 (0%) of 42 patients who had negative results for risk factors, 9 (16.7%) of 54 who had positive results for 1 risk factor, and 31 (48.4%) of 64 who had positive results for 2 or 3 risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of the expression levels of CD44v6 in RP specimens in addition to conventional prognostic parameters would contribute to the accurate prediction of the biochemical outcome in patients with localized PC who underwent RP.