The utility of CD44 and D2-40 as a prognostic predictor in invasive carcinomas of the breast

Purpose: Local recurrence and distant metastasis are major prognostic factors associated with breast cancer. Lymphovascular invasion is an important pathway of metastatic spread. CD44 and D2-40 are assumed to be related with invasion of malignant cells to the adjacent lymphatic or vascular structures by different mechanisms. This study was conducted to examine whether CD44 and D2-40 expression together have prognostic value in invasive carcinoma of the breast. Methods: A total of 46 surgically resected tissue samples of invasive carcinoma of the breast were analyzed for immunohistochemical expression of CD44 and D2-40, along with other clinicopathologic factors. Association between patient related factors and disease free survival was evaluated by statistical analysis. Results: Disease free survival was shorter in CD44-positive patients (median, 66.5 months) than in CD44-negative patients (median, 112.6 months; P Conclusion: We concluded that expression of CD44 and D2-40 is associated with unfavorable prognosis. Concurrent positivity of both markers may be useful in predicting malignant relapse following surgical resection with shorter disease free survival in patients with invasive carcinoma of the breast.