Background: The CD44 family of receptors includes multiple variant isoforms, some of which have been linked to tumor progression. The objective of this study was to investigate whether CD44 v3-containing isoforms are involved in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumor progression.
Methods: Laboratory investigation utilizing HNSCC cell lines and clinical tissue specimens was performed.
Results: Investigation of 13 HNSCC cell lines revealed a diversity of CD44 isoform profiles, including expression of CD44 v3-containing isoforms. Two cell lines, HOC313 and MDA1483, were selected for further study based on their CD44 v3 expression profile. The HOC313 cell line, which highly expresses CD44 v3-containing isoforms, demonstrated hyaluronan-mediated CD44-dependent promotion of tumor cell growth and migration. Conditioned media from the HOC313 cell line also exhibited high matrix metalloproteinase expression on gelatin zymography. Immunohistochemical analysis of a series of metastatic HNSCC lymph nodes revealed CD44 overexpression as well as staining for CD44 v3-containing isoforms.
Conclusion: CD44 v3-containing isoforms are associated with HNSCC growth, migration, and matrix metalloproteinase activity and can be identified in lymph node metastasis.
(c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007.