Expression analysis of CD۴۴ isoforms S and V۳, in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective(s):  CD۴۴ is a member of the cell adhesion molecules family. Naturally, CD۴۴S, along with CD۴۴V۳ influence the cell motility, migration, and adhesion, while in tumor cells they lead to tumor invasion, progression, and metastasis. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the CD۴۴S and CD۴۴V۳ expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) and to reveal their correlations with clinicopathological features of patients. Materials and Methods:Fresh tumoral and distant tumor-free esophageal tissues were obtained from ۵۰ patients with ESCC. Using quantitative real-time PCR, the expression levels of CD۴۴S and CD۴۴V۳ were quantified and compared in both groups of cells. The patients had not received any therapeutic interference, such as chemotherapy or radiation, prior to sampling. Results:Significant overexpression of CD۴۴S and CD۴۴V۳ mRNA was observed in ۱۳ (۲۶.۰%, P=۰.۰۳) and ۱۱ (۲۲.۰%, P=۰.۰۰۷) tumor specimens, respectively. The expression of the genes were significantly correlated not only with each other (P=۰.۰۰۰۱), but also with differentiation grade of tumor (P=۰.۰۳۳), stage of tumor progression (P=۰.۰۰۳), and depth of tumor invasion         (P=۰.۰۰). In addition, low level of CD۴۴V۳ mRNA expression was attended to be associated with tumor invasion. Conclusion:There is no correlation between CD۴۴S expression with clinicopathological features of patients; however, simultaneous expression of these genes has an important effect on tumorigenesis.

Keywords:

CD۴۴ V۳ , CD۴۴ S , Esophageal squamous cell- carcinoma , Real-time PCR