BACKGROUND: @entity1759 is a cell adhesion molecule often expressed in the form of various splice variants. The role of standard @entity1759 isoform (CD44s) and its variants in @entity14 is partly conflicting. Therefore, we compared the expression of @entity1759 s (hermes-3) and its splice variants (v3 and v6) with traditional prognostic factors in 194 @entity14 @entity1 treated at Kuopio University Hospital and followed up for a mean of 14 years. METHODS: Formalin-fixed, @entity982 -embedded tissue sections from 194 @entity1 with @entity14 were examined immunohistochemically to detect the expression of different forms of @entity1759 . The hypothesis that CD44s, CD44v3, and CD44v6 expression intensities and distribution in @entity5 cells correlated with survival was tested with the log-rank test, hazard ratios, and their confidence intervals. RESULTS: In high-grade @entity5 @entity1759 s and CD44v6 expression intensities and @entity1759 s percentages were stronger than in low-grade @entity5 . CD44v6, CD44v3, and @entity1759 s expression intensities in @entity5 epithelium were also stronger in Dukes C and D @entity5 than in A and B @entity5 . In the univariate survival analysis @entity1 with strong CD44s, CD44v3, and CD44v6 expression intensities in @entity5 epithelium had @entity5 -related survival than the @entity1 who had weak CD44s, CD44v3, and CD44v6 expression intensities. Recurrence-free survival was also shorter in @entity1 with intense signals for CD44v3 and CD44v6 in @entity5 epithelium. In the multivariate analysis the CD44v6 expression intensity in @entity5 epithelium predicted independently both @entity5 -related and recurrence-free survival in T1-4N0-3M0 and T1-3N0M0 cases. In addition, the CD44v3 expression intensity in @entity5 epithelium was a significant predictor of @entity4434 in T1-3N0M0 cases. CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest that the @entity1759 splice variants v6 and v3 have prognostic significance in @entity14 .

Expression of @entity1759 and variant proteins in @entity1 XXXX and its relevance for prognosis.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['lower cancer', 'cancer', 'tumours', 'tumour'] @entity1759 :: ('960', 'Gene') :: ['CD44'] @entity982 :: ('MESH:D010232', 'Chemical') :: ['paraffin'] @entity14 :: ('MESH:D015179', 'Disease') :: ['colorectal carcinogenesis', 'colorectal carcinoma', 'colorectal cancer'] @entity4434 :: ('MESH:D005198', 'Disease') :: ['RFS']
@entity14 :: (MESH:D015179,Disease) :: ['colorectal cancer']
