Molecule CD44 variant 10 expression in lymphocytes infiltrating tumour tissues and epithelial cells in patients with colorectal cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of CD44v10 in colorectal tumour cells and in lymphocytes infiltrating the tumour (CD45+). Samples of tumour tissue (TT), as well as of healthy tissue (HT) and of tumour adjacent tissue (TAT), were obtained from 20 patients. An evaluation of CD44v10 expression was performed in a flow cytometer. The mean value of the percentage of CD45+ with co-expression of CD44v10 was significantly higher in the lower stage of the tumour (pT). The mean value of the percentage of epithelial cells with CD44v10 co-expression was significantly higher in pN2 than in pN1 stage. Only in TAT the mean value of the percentage of epithelial cells and CD45+ with tCD44v10 coexpression was significantly lower in the higher degree of histological malignancy. It is supposed that CD44v10 takes part in local cancer progression.