Is CD 44 really a marker of breast cancer metastasis or is nefarious in its nature

Authors : Sumbul Warsi, Sumbul Warsi, Kafil Akhtar, Kafil Akhtar, Atia Zakaur Rab, Atia Zakaur Rab

DOI : 10.18231/j.achr.2021.006

Volume : 6

Issue : 1

Year : 2021

Page No : 22-28

Aims and Objectives: To study the expression of immunomarker CD 44 and evaluate its diagnostic and prognostic significance and its correlation with clinicopathological variables in Breast Carcinoma. 
Materials and Methods: 50 diagnosed cases of breast carcinoma, presenting clinically with breast lumps were processed routinely for histopathological diagnosis of breast cancer and immunoexpression of CD 44 was performed. The immunoexpression of CD44 was detected mainly at the membrane of tumour cells and the scoring was performed.
Results: 217 (98.2%) were females and 4(1.8%) males. Most common subtype involved was invasive carcinoma (NST) in 205(92.8%) cases. Out of 29 cases of grade 2 tumor, 07 (14.0%) showed 1+ score, 10(20.0 %) showed 2+ score and 12 (24.0%) cases showed 3+ immunoexpression. Out of 25 cases of T2 (2-5cm) size, 07(14.0%) showed 1+ score, 09(18.0%) case each showed 2+ score and 3+ immunoexpression. Out of 26 cases of stage III, 04(8.0%) showed 1+ score, 09(18.0%) showed 2+ score and 13(26.0%) cases showed 3+ immunoexpression. Out of 05 cases of N3, 02(4.0%) showed 2+ score and 03(6.0%) showed 3+ immunoexpression. Out of 21 cases of basal cell type, 03(6.0%) showed 1+ score, 07(14.0 %) showed 2+
score and 11(22.0%) cases showed 3+ immunoexpression. Out of 11 (50.0%) cases with weak to moderate expression of CD44, 7(31.8%) cases were stable and alive while 4(18.2%) died due to distant metastasis to various sites.
Conclusions: CD 44 is associated with disease progression, recurrence, advanced metastasis and reduced disease free survival and can be used in future to predict early diagnosis of advanced disease.

Keywords: Breast carcinoma, CD 44, Immunohistochemistry, Prognosis.


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