The expression of distinct variant isoforms of the cell surface glycoprotein CD44 (CD44v) has been found to be associated with metastatic potential of rodent adenocarcinoma cells and with an altered prognosis in several types of human cancer. In hormone-dependent gynecological cancers, different CD44v expression patterns have been observed. The influence of ovarian steroid hormones and their antagonists on CD44v expression is still unclear, since there are only retrospective correlation studies so far. Therefore, we examined the CD44 mRNA expression in a standardized stimulation experiment in a number of breast and endometrial carcinoma cell lines varying in estrogen receptor (ER) status. Higher CD44 overall expression was observed in ER positive endometrial and breast carcinoma cell lines when compared to corresponding ER negative cell lines. The number and composition of alternatively spliced isoforms showed no clear correlation to the ER expression status. Three CD44v isoforms were detected in all cell lines expressing CD44v, two of which have not been reported previously in normal endometrial cells. These isoforms may have specific functions in this type of carcinoma. In the second part of the study, the influence of (anti-) hormones on CD44 expression in endometrial carcinoma cell lines was examined. CD44 overall expression showed an increase when the cells were grown in medium containing fetal calf serum (FCS) as compared to cells maintained in medium-free of FCS. CD44 expression was transiently increased by estradiol (1 h). The CD44 splice pattern of endometrial cancer cell lines RL95-2 and Hec-1-A, after treatment with (anti-) hormones showed constant and high expression rates for distinct CD44v-isoforms such as CD44E (CD44v8-v10). Only certain weakly expressed isoforms changed their expression level during the experimental period, but no direct correlation to hormone treatment was observed. In conclusion, estradiol or FCS increase CD44 overall expression, but there seems to be no direct influence of ovarian steroid hormones on the CD44v splice machinery in endometrial carcinoma cell lines.

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