[Expression of the adhesion molecule CD44v6 in infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast is associated with hormone dependence. Our experience with 168 cases].

In order to investigate the possible hormone-dependence of CD44v6 in human breast cancer, we assayed the concentrations of this isoform in the membrane fraction of 168 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and in 26 normal breast tissue samples, 18 fibradenomas (FAD), 3 fibrocystic disease specimens (FD), 7 mucinous carcinomas and 4 medullary carcinomas using the ELISA method. The results were compared with those of the estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, pS2, tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA), cathepsin D, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-erbB2/neu oncoprotein concentrations. Menopausal status, size of the tumor in the cases of cancers, axillary lymph node involvement, histologic grade, ploidy, cellular synthesis phase, multifocality and multicentricity were also considered as variables. The cut-off value for CD44v6-positivity was set at 5 ng/mg prt. membrane protein content. 64/138 (38.1%) infiltrating ductal carcinomas scored positive. This was significantly higher than for the normal breast tissue (0/26; p: 0.0001), similar to that seen in the FAD (3/18), fibrocystic disease (0/3), infiltrating mucinous carcinomas (4/7) and lobular (3/15) and significantly lower than for the infiltrating medullary carcinomas (4/4; p: 0.027). There were no significant differences with the other groups of tissues studied. Furthermore, CD44v6-positive IDC showed significantly higher concentrations of ER, PR and cathepsin D and lower (p: 0.051) concentrations of EGFR when compared to their CD44v6-negative counterparts. The significant coexpression of ER, PR and cathepsin D seems to indicate a possible role for hormonal regulation of CD44v6 expression while the role of pS2 and t-PA, estrogen related proteins, was very reduced.