p63 overexpression associates with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

p63 belongs to a protein family that includes 2 structurally related proteins, p53 and p73. The aim of this study was to investigate the biologic role of p63 in oral tumorigenesis and its possible role as prognostic marker in oral cancer. Ninety-four cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 cases of normal mucosa were analyzed for p63 expression by immunohistochemistry. Normal oral mucosa showed a basal and parabasal expression of p63. Five (5.3%) cases of oral cancer showed less than 10% of positive tumor cells; in 33 (35.1%) cases the positive tumor cells comprised between 10% and less than 30%, in 36 (38.3%) cases the positive tumor cells comprised between 30% and less than 50%, and in 20 (21.3%) cases the positive tumor cells were more than 50%. There was also a statistically significant correlation between p63 expression and tumor differentiation: p63 expression was amplified in poorly differentiated tumors (P < .05). When analyzed for prognostic significance, patients with perineural infiltration had poorer survival rates than the group with no perineural infiltration (P < .05) and patients with increased p63 expression had poorer survival rates than the group with reduced p63 expression (P < .05). The statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between p63 expression, sex, age, tumor size, staging, recurrence, and metastasis. Cases with diffuse p63 expression were more aggressive and poorly differentiated and related to a poorer prognosis. These data suggest that p63 expression may be useful to identify cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma with more aggressive and invasive phenotype providing novel diagnostic and prognostic information on individual patient survival with oral cancers.     

CD44s和CD44v6在宫颈鳞癌中表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨宫颈鳞癌中CD44s和CD44v6的表达及其与临床病理资料的关系。方法：应用免疫组化EnVision两步法对31例宫颈鳞标本中CD44s和CD44v6蛋白表达并进行分析。结果：肿瘤原发灶中CD44s阳性表达率为61．3％（19／31）。CD44v6阳性表达率为93．5％（29／31）,CD44v6阳性率高于CD44s,CD44s阳性表达与临床分期,病理分级和分类无关（P＞0．05）,CD44v6阳性表达与肿瘤细胞分化程度无关,但与浸润程度及分期有关（P＜0．05）,结论：CD44v6基因蛋白与宫颈鳞癌的侵袭,转移相关,可作为预测肿瘤进展和预后的一种有用指标。     

Expression of CD44 molecules and CD44 ligands during human thymic fetal development: expression of CD44 isoforms is developmentally regulated

It has recently been recognized that CD44 comprises a largefamily of alternatively spliced forms.In the thymus, CD44 hasbeen postulated to play an important role in immature T cellmigration and maturation. In this paper, we have studied theexpression of CD44 molecules and two CD44 ligands, hyaluronan(HA) and fibronectin (FN), during human thymic fetal development.We found that mAbs against all CD44 isoforms (A3D8 or A1G3)reacted with both thymic epithelial (TE) cells and thymocytesbeginning at the time of initial colonization of the human thymusby hematopoietic stem cells at 8.2 weeks of fetal gestation.However, mAbs specific for splice variants of CD44 containingmembrane-proximal inserts (11.24, 11.10 and 11.9) reacted onlywith terminally differentiated TE cells in and around Hassall'sbodies beginning at 16–19 weeks of fetal gestation. Studiesof differentiated versus undifferentiated TE cells in vitroconfirmed the selective expression of CD44 variant isoformson terminally differentiated TE cells. Expression of HA andFN was determined by fluorescence microscopy using either biotlnylated-HAbinding protein or an anti-FN mAb. We found that whereas FNwas present throughout the human fetal thymus beginning at 8.2weeks, HA was not present until 16 weeks of gestational age.These data demonstrate the differential expression of standardversus variant CD44 isoforms during thymic ontogeny and implicateCD44 interactions with ligands other than HA as important inthe earlier stages of humanthymus development     

ΔNp63 isoforms differentially regulate gene expression in squamous cell carcinoma: identification of Cox‐2 as a novel p63 target

The p53 homologue p63 produces six different isoforms that are important in development of epithelial tissues and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). In SCCHN, the expression of p63 isoforms is highly complex, with over‐expression of ΔNp63 and p63β isoforms in many tumours. To date, little is known about the functions of different ΔNp63 isoforms and elucidating the distinctive properties of ΔNp63 isoforms will help to clarify how they influence tumour biology. By gene expression profiling of SCCHN cells over‐expressing the ΔNp63 isoforms we identified different effects of the three isoforms, with ΔNp63β being more effective at gene induction than ΔNp63α and ΔNp63γ, whereas ΔNp63γ was most effective at repressing gene expression. Thus, tumours expressing even low levels of ΔNp63β or ΔNp63γ may have distinct clinicopathological characteristics important for metastasis and therapeutic response. Induction of cyclooxygenase‐2 (Cox‐2) was shown by each isoform and data were confirmed by independent quantitative RT–PCR and western blotting. No direct binding of ΔNp63 to the Cox‐2 promoter could be seen, neither could any evidence for Cox‐2 induction as a consequence of activated NF‐κB pathway responses be found. As Cox‐2 is known to inhibit radiotherapy responses in SCCHN patients, data indicate an additional mechanism through which ΔNp63 acts to promote cell survival and influence therapeutic response of SCCHN. MIAME‐compliant data have been deposited in the MIAME Express database (Accession No. E‐MEXP‐1842). Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

结直肠腺癌组织中CD44+/Oct4+癌干细胞的形态及分布

背景：越来越多的证据显示CD44可作为结直肠腺癌干细胞的一个特异性的标志物,近年发现胚胎干细胞转录因子Oct4在结直肠腺癌中有表达。 目的：观察CD44⁺/Oct4⁺细胞在原发性结直肠腺癌组织中的数量、位置及分布方式。 方法：取108例结直肠腺癌、18例癌旁正常肠黏膜组织及18例伴不典型增生的结直肠腺瘤标本制成48点共3块组织芯片,应用免疫组织化学双重染色和苏木精-伊红染色,定位CD44⁺/Oct4⁺肿瘤细胞,观察计数并在苏木精-伊红切片的对应位置上观察其形态特征。 结果与结论：免疫组织化学双重染色结果显示,癌旁正常肠黏膜中未见CD44⁺/Oct4⁺细胞,在伴不典型增生的腺瘤中可见极少量CD44⁺/Oct4⁺细胞,结直肠腺癌中可见到少量CD44⁺/Oct4⁺细胞。双阳性细胞主要分布在腺管样结构基底膜侧或共壁腺体的共壁侧,呈小灶状或散在点状分布;细胞呈卵圆形或立方状,胞浆稀少,胞核规则,均质深染,呈卵圆形或高柱状。其数量与结直肠癌分化程度呈负相关(r=-0.579,P < 0.01),与肿瘤浸润深度有一定关联(r=0.236,P < 0.05)。结果提示CD44⁺/Oct4⁺细胞可能是结直肠腺癌干细胞。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

ADAM-17 associated with CD44 cleavage and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

ADAM-17 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17) is a membrane-anchored protein, which can cleave the ectodomain in a variety of transmembrane proteins. In the in vitro experiments with tumor cells, ADAM-17 is reported to cleave CD44, an adhesion molecule that interacts with hyaluronic acid, to promote tumor cell migration. In the present study, we examined ADAM-17 expression and CD44 cleavage in specimens from 50 patients diagnosed to have oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Each specimen was divided into two pieces, one was studied by immunohistochemistry and the other was subjected to a Western blot. By coordinating the results of both analyses, ADAM-17 expression was evaluated to be high in 23 cases (46%). When CD44 cleavage was also studied by immunohistochemical staining as well as with Western blotting, CD44 cleavage was judged to be positive in 29 cases (58%). When the ADAM-17 expression level was compared with the CD44 cleavage state, most of the cases expressing high levels of ADAM-17 (87%) showed positive CD44 cleavage. The level of ADAM-17 expression was significantly correlated to the nodal metastasis and local recurrence in oral SCC. Our findings suggest that ADAM-17 is involved in CD44 cleavage and contributes to tumor progression in oral SCC.     

癌干细胞标记物CD44与ESA在舌癌淋巴道转移模型中的表达及其意义

目的:探讨癌干细胞标记物CD44与ESA蛋白在舌癌淋巴道转移模型中表达情况及其表达意义。方法:采用癌细胞足垫注射法建立淋巴道转移模型,4周后,取转移淋巴结进行原代细胞培养,从中分离、纯化舌癌细胞进行连续传代培养,建立舌癌永生化细胞系,命名为Tca8113-Ml。以舌癌永生化细胞系Tca8113-Ml为研究对象,采用足垫注射细胞的方法建立淋巴道转移模型。4周后,收集淋巴结,免疫组织化学染色检测癌干细胞标记物CD44与ESA蛋白的表达情况。结果:采用Tca8113-Ml建立了舌癌淋巴道转移模型,4周后收集淋巴结,检测癌干细胞标记物CD44与ESA蛋白在舌癌转移淋巴结组织中均呈阳性表达。结论:癌干细胞标记物在淋巴结转移性癌组织中呈阳性表达,表明淋巴结转移灶中有癌干细胞存在,提示癌转移的"种子"细胞极有可能是癌干细胞。     

Feasibility of immunocytochemical detection of tumor markers (XIAP, phosphohistone H1 and p63) in FNA cellblock samples from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

One of the major handicaps in contemporary clinical oncology is the inability to predict the responsiveness of any individual's malignancy to specific therapies. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of immunocytochemically detecting markers that may be affected by therapy or are predictive of therapeutic responsiveness, including phosphohistone H1 (anti-p-H1 MoAb 12D11) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) in small samples obtained via fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy procedure, thus improving therapeutic monitoring. p63, a squamous stem cell regulatory protein, was also examined. These three markers were studied in FNA cell block samples of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Twenty-eight alcohol-fixed formalin-postfixed paraffin-embedded cell-block samples from FNAs of patients with HNSCC were subjected to antigen retrieval and then incubated with anti-XIAP, anti-p-H1, and anti-p63, and developed using EnVision-Plus reagents and diaminobenzidine as chromagen; Granular or heterogeneous cytoplasmic staining for XIAP and nuclear staining for p63 and p-H1 were considered positive. Among the 28 cases studied, the overall positive rates for XIAP, p-H1, and p63 were 60.7%, 96.4%, and 92.8%, respectively. The staining intensity for XIAP: + 70.6%, ++ 23.5%, +++ 0%, and ++++ 5.9%; for p-H1: + 48.1%, ++ 11.1%, +++37.0%, and ++++ 3.7%; and for p63: + 11.5%, ++ 23.1%, +++ 53.9%, and ++++ 11.5%. The expression of p-H1 and p63 appeared to be higher and stronger than that of XIAP in HNSCC. This study demonstrated the feasibility of monitoring expression of three tumor markers using FNA samples. p-H1 and XIAP may be useful for monitoring actions of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, XIAP-lowering, and/or apoptosis-inducing drugs, respectively. Future studies will focus on the impact of therapies upon these staining profiles.     

非小细胞肺癌患者CD44及其变异体V6的测定

目的：探讨测定粘附分子CD44及其变异体V₆在非小细胞肺癌（non-smallcelllungcarcinoma, NSCLC）中的意义。方法：采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测血清中可溶性CD44S（sCD44S）和可溶性CD44V₆（sCD44V₆）含量;流式细胞术测定细胞表面CD44S、CD44V₆的表达。结果：NSCLC患者血清CD44S、CD44V₆水平明显高于肺良性疾病（P<0.05, P<0.01）。原发肺鳞癌（SCC）和腺癌（ADC）细胞的CD44S表达率明显高于对照组（P<0.01）;3组的CD44V₆表达率均低,差异无显著。NSCLC原发癌细胞表面CD44S、CD44V₆表达与其血清的可溶性含量之间均无相关性。结论：提示血清CD44S、CD44V₆水平可作为鉴别NSCLC和肺良性疾病的辅助指标。     

Expression of hyaluronic acid and its receptors, CD44s and CD44v6, in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic endometrium

The interaction between epithelial tumor cells and their surrounding stroma is important in tumor progression and metastasis. This is accomplished through a number of transmembrane receptors that interact with stromal extracellular matrix molecules. One of these receptors, CD44, binds to extracellular matrix component hyaluronic acid (HA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of HA, CD44s, and CD44v6 in benign, hyperplastic, atypical, and malignant endometrial epithelia. Archival paraffin-embedded cell blocks from proliferative endometrium (n = 11), secretory endometrium (n = 12), simple hyperplasia (n = 13), complex hyperplasia without atypia (n = 9), complex hyperplasia with atypia (n = 17), and adenocarcinoma (n = 21) were stained for HA, CD44s, and CD44v6. HA was detected throughout the normal menstrual cycle but was more intense during the secretory phase. Only during the secretory phase was CD44s expressed in the stromal cells in 11 cases (92%), whereas CD44v6 was detected in glandular epithelium in 9 (75%). CD44s was expressed in the glandular epithelium in 2 (15%) cases of simple hyperplasia, 4 (44%) of complex hyperplasia without atypia, 14 (82%) of complex hyperplasia with atypia, and in 16 (76%) of adenocarcinoma. CD44v6 was expressed in the glandular epithelium in 1 (11%) case of complex hyperplasia without atypia, 17 (100%) cases of complex hyperplasia with atypia, and in 18 (86%) cases of adenocarcinoma, but in none of the cases of simple hyperplasia. The endometrial stromal cells expressed CD44v6 in 1 (8%) case of simple hyperplasia, 6 (67%) of complex hyperplasia without atypia, 8 (47%) of complex hyperplasia with atypia, and in 3 (14%) of adenocarcinoma. We concluded that in the normal menstrual cycle, the timing of peak staining of HA and CD44s in the stroma and the up-regulation of CD44v6 in secretory glands are coincident with the period in which the endometrium is most receptive to embryo implantation. HA is more abundant in the stroma adjacent to the tumor, suggesting that interactions between tumor cells and stromal HA promote tumorigenesis. With progression from hyperplasia and with increasing atypia to adenocarcinoma, levels of stromal HA, glandular CD44v6, and glandular and stromal CD44s all increase. Thus, HA and CD44 are both involved in the development and progression of endometrial cancer.     

食管鳞癌中VEGF-C与CD44v6的表达及其与淋巴结转移的关系

目的研究食管鳞癌组织中血管内皮细胞生长因子-C(VEGF-C)与CD44v6的表达及其与淋巴结转移的关系。方法应用免疫组织化学方法对152例食管鳞癌组织进行VEGF-C与CD44v6蛋白检测结果VEGF-C与CD44v6蛋白在食管鳞癌的阳性表达为55.3%和71.7%,VEGF-C与CD44v6的表达与食管癌有无转移有显著差异(P<0.05)。结论VEGF-C与CD44v6与食管鳞癌淋巴结转移密切相关,可作为判断食管鳞癌预后的指标。     

Involvement of CD44 variant isoforms in hyaluronate adhesion by human activated T cells

The standard, 85–95-kDa form of the hyaluronic acid (HA) receptor CD44 and a number of CD44 mRNA splice variants play important roles in immune responses and tumor metastasis. Variants carrying exon 6 (v6), or 9 (v9) products are transiently expressed on activated human T cells. Here, modulation experiments with specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) indicate that v6 and v9 are expressed independently on distinct sets of CD44 molecules, and that their combined expression is necessary for HA adhesion. Moreover, the finding that mAb-mediated cross-linking of v6 and v9 promoted cytosolic free Ca²⁺ mobilization and co-stimulated CD3-triggered T cell proliferation indicates that v6 and v9 possess signaling and effector function activation ability. Finally, HA-mediated signaling appears to be required for variant-dependent adhesion to HA. The observation that soluble HA promoted cytosolic free Ca²⁺ mobilization indicates that HA-induced Ca²⁺ mobilization can occur during T cell-HA interaction. Since Ca²⁺ mobilization was inhibited by pretreatment of cells with an anti-CD44 mAb directed against the HA-binding domain of CD44, CD44 receptors appear to be involved in HA-mediated signal transduction. The requirement of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ for adhesion is shown by the fact that ionomycin (a Ca²⁺ ionophore) stimulated, and EGTA (a Ca²⁺ chelator), inhibited HA adhesion. In addition, cytoskeletal functional activation is required for cell adhesion to HA, since drugs that block actin polymerization, such as cytochalasin B, or actomyosin contraction, such as the calmodulin antagonist W-7, inhibited cell adhesion to HA. As this adhesion is also ADP ribosylation-sensitive, it may involve a GTP-dependent function of CD44v, i.e. ankyrin binding. Our data indicate that there is a functional hierarchy among the CD44 molecules expressed on human peripheral blood T cells and that the splice variants, as compared to the standard form, exhibit a greater HA binding ability which involves CD44-mediated signaling and effector function activation.     

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM/CD166) expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSSC)

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM/CD166) is expressed in a number of malignancies (e.g. prostate, breast, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, lung and head and neck tumors). Based on studies in which ALCAM showed prognostic relevance in several carcinomas, it has been discussed as a potential therapeutic target. We evaluate its expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs).     

Ezrin和CD44v6在胃癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的 探讨胃癌组织中Ezrin和CD44v6的表达及其临床病理意义.方法 应用免疫组织化学(SP法)检测73例胃腺癌患者组织标本、15例胃不典型增生组织及12例癌旁胃黏膜组织中Ezrin和CD44v6的表达情况.结果 (1)Ezrin 在正常胃黏膜组、胃不典型增生组和胃癌组中的阳性表达率分别为41.7%、53.3%和83.6%.CD44v6在正常胃黏膜组、胃不典型增生组和胃癌组中的阳性表达率分别为25%、40%和82.2%.(2)Ezrin和CD44v6的表达与淋巴结转移密切相关,有淋巴结转移组Ezrin与CD44v6的阳性率均明显高于无淋巴结转移组(P<0.05);在Ezrin和CD44v6同时表达组中,淋巴结转移率为63%(34/54例)高于两者均为阴性组(1/6例,16.7%)(P＜0.05).结论 联合检测Ezrin和CD44v6的表达有助于预测胃癌的恶性程度和转移潜能.     

CD44v6与MMP—9在口腔鳞癌中的表达意义

目的：探讨细胞粘附分子CD44v6和基质金属蛋白酶MMP－9相互关系及其在评估口腔鳞癌的组织学分级,肿瘤浸润以及转移等生物学特性中的意义。方法：运用免疫组化S－P法测定22例口腔鳞癌和6例正常口腔黏膜组织中CD44v6和MMP－9的表达,结果：CD44v6在正常口腔黏膜组织呈强阳性表达;癌组织中CDv6的表达明显弱于正常组织,高表达CD44v6的口腔鳞癌不仅分化程度较差而且易发生淋巴结转移,MMP－9在正常口腔黏膜组织中呈阴性或弱阳性表达,癌组织中MMP－9的阳性表达高达68．2％（15／22）。MMP－9的表达与病理分级和颈淋巴结转移呈正相关（P＜0．05）,口腔鳞癌中MMP－9与CD44v6的表达呈正相关（P＜0．01）,多因素分析示两者之间的交互作用是影响口腔鳞癌病理分化和颈淋巴结转移的最重要因素。结论：口腔鳞癌中CD44v6与MMP－9的表达密切相关。MMP－9和CD44v6可作为临床上评估口腔鳞癌浸润,转移以及预后的指标。