Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
CD44v6 in developing, dysplastic and malignant oral epithelia
List of Authors: Rautava J, Soukka T, Inki P, Leimola-Virtanen R, Saloniemi I, Happonen RP, Heikinheimo K
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication year: 2003
Journal: Oral Oncology
Journal name in source: ORAL ONCOLOGY
Journal acronym: ORAL ONCOL
Volume number: 39
Issue number: 4
Start page: 373
End page: 379
Number of pages: 7
ISSN: 1368-8375
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1368-8375(02)00140-9
Abstract
The CD44v6 adhesion molecule has been linked to progression of various carcinomas, but its role in relation to oral-cancer development is not clear. The study was designed to determine whether CD44v6 levels were clinically significant in oral dysplasias. Twenty-nine oral dysplasias were immunostained with CD44v6 antibody on follow-up. Developing normal epithelia and adult normal epithelia and oral carcinomas were stained for comparison. Oral dysplasias and carcinomas exhibited heterogenous staining patterns. No statistically significant correlation between CD44v6 expression and outcome was found for dysplasia patients. The results show that in developing and healthy oral mucosa CD44v6 is associated with epithelium-specific differentiation but in dysplasias and carcinomas it mirrors disorderly epithelial maturation. The results also suggest that determination of CD44v6 levels is not helpful in judging the likely clinical behaviour of oral dysplasia. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The CD44v6 adhesion molecule has been linked to progression of various carcinomas, but its role in relation to oral-cancer development is not clear. The study was designed to determine whether CD44v6 levels were clinically significant in oral dysplasias. Twenty-nine oral dysplasias were immunostained with CD44v6 antibody on follow-up. Developing normal epithelia and adult normal epithelia and oral carcinomas were stained for comparison. Oral dysplasias and carcinomas exhibited heterogenous staining patterns. No statistically significant correlation between CD44v6 expression and outcome was found for dysplasia patients. The results show that in developing and healthy oral mucosa CD44v6 is associated with epithelium-specific differentiation but in dysplasias and carcinomas it mirrors disorderly epithelial maturation. The results also suggest that determination of CD44v6 levels is not helpful in judging the likely clinical behaviour of oral dysplasia. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.