The potential of CD44 as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in oral cancer

J Oral Pathol Med. 2015 Jul;44(6):393-400. doi: 10.1111/jop.12308. Epub 2015 Jan 30.

Abstract

The CD44 family of molecules exists as a wide range of isoforms ubiquitously expressed on the surface of mammalian cells. The variation in patterns of CD44 expression on cancer cells has been widely studied in relation to their behaviour, and further interest has recently arisen in CD44 as a marker of the subfraction tumour cells acting as cancer stem cells in several types of tumours. This review focuses on the patterns of CD44 expression on the stem cell fraction of oral squamous cell carcinoma and on the relationship of detectably different patterns of CD44 expression to the behaviour of tumours.

Keywords: CD44; cancer stem cells; oral cancer; prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / biosynthesis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / analysis
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / biosynthesis*
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / genetics
  • Mouth Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / genetics
  • Mouth Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Mouth Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD44 protein, human
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Protein Isoforms