We created antisense CD44 transfectants using LS174T, a colon adenocarcinoma cell line and assessed the effects of overall CD44 down-regulation on colorectal tumor growth and metastasis.
An antisense mRNA approach was used to down-regulate CD44 variant isoforms containing CD44 variant 6 (v6) in the metastatic colorectal tumor cell line HT29.
The status of CD44 intron 18 retention or excision was assessed in a colon tumor cell line (HT29) and in tissue from 20 colorectal tumors and matched normal mucosa.
The results of this study show a close relationship between cellular dysplasia and steady state levels of CD44 variant v6 transcripts in colorectal neoplasms.
The distribution of the CD44 variants in human tissues suggests that they play a role in a few restricted differentiation pathways and that in colorectal tumors one of these pathways has been reactivated.