Abstract 1148: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition might be induced via CD44 isoform switch in colorectal cancer

We examined the association between the EMT status and CD44 isoform switch, and analyzed the correlation with clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Finally, we evaluated the effect of CD44 knockdown by siRNA in CRC cell lines by measuring the proliferation, migration and invasion ability. Results: 1. The CRC cell lines were classified into 8 epithelial, 4 mesenchymal and 2 intermediate type. Of these cell lines, CD44s was highly expressed in mesenchymal type cell lines, whereas, CD44v9 was highly expressed in epithelial type cell lines. 2. The 150 CRC patients were divided into 115 epithelial group and 35 mesenchymal group based on vimentin/E-cadherin expression ratio. Mesenchymal group showed significantly poorer survival than epithelial group (5-year survival rate; epithelial: 85.5% vs. mesenchymal: 62.1%, P = 0.009). EMT status was significantly correlated with invasion depth of tumor (P = 0.036), lymphatic vessel involvement (P = 0.034) and histological grade (P = 0.001). 3. High CD44 status group showed poorer prognosis than low CD44 status group (5- year survival rate; low group: 85.0% vs. high group: 62.1%, P = 0.025). There was a significant correlation between EMT status and CD44 status (r = 0.298, P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, pathological T4 stage (P = 0.011), liver metastasis positive (P = 0.001), high CA19-9 level (≥37) (P = 0.003) and CD44 status (P = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for CRC patients. 4. In COL-3-JCK, which is identified...
Source: Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Tumor Biology Source Type: research