CD44 is a marker of cancer stem-like cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition that is overexpressed in many cancer types, including thyroid carcinoma. At extracellular and intramembranous domains, CD44 undergoes sequential metalloprotease- and γ-secretase-mediated proteolytic cleavage, releasing the intracellular protein fragment CD44-ICD, which translocates to the nucleus and activates gene...

This study aimed to explore cell surface biomarkers related to cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their role in the tumorigenesis of colon cancer. Various colon cancer cell lines were screened for CD133 and CD44 expression. CD44(high)/CD133(high) and CD44(low)/CD133(low) cells were separately isolated by Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). The cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle ...

CD44 is a marker of cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and CD44 expression is related to prognosis in cancer patients. We examined whether herbal medicine components affect CD44 expression and induce cancer cell apoptosis. Baicalin enhanced apoptosis with no effect on CD44 levels, while baicalein did not enhance apoptosis and upregulated CD44 in head and neck squamous c...

CD44 has been the subject of extensive research for more than 3 decades because of its role in breast cancer, in addition to many physiological processes, but interestingly, conflicting data implicate CD44 in both tumor suppression and tumor promotion. CD44 has been shown to promote protumorigenic signaling and advance the metastatic cascade. On the other hand, CD44 has been shown to suppress g...

CD44 transmembrane glycoprotein is involved in angiogenesis, but it is not clear whether CD44 functions as a pro­ or antiangiogenic molecule. Here, we assess the role of CD44 in angiogenesis and endothelial proliferation by using Cd44­null mice and CD44 silencing in human endothelial cells. We demonstrate that angiogenesis is increased in Cd44­null mice c...

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been linked to cancer stem-like (CD44+) cell in the prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we found EMT contributed to metastasis in PCa patients failed in androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Castration TRAMP model also proved PCa treated with ADT promoted EMT with increased CD44+ stem-like cells. Swi...

CD44, a multi-structural and multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein, was initially identified as a receptor for hyaluronan that participates in both physiological and pathological processes. CD44 is found to be closely linked to the development of various solid tumors. Molecular studies have revealed that high CD44 expression was correlated with the phenotypes of cancer stem cells and epith...

We have previously shown that CD44 partly mediates ovarian cancer cell attachment to peritoneal mesothelium through recognition of mesothelial-associated hyaluronate. CD44 is a major receptor for hyaluronate and exists as a standard 90-180-kDa form (CD44H), as well as several higher molecular mass variant forms produced by alternative splicing. To determine whether functional differences exist ...

Glycosaminoglycan-modified isoforms of CD44 have been implicated in growth factor presentation at sites of inflammation. In the present study we show that COS cell transfectants expressing CD44 isoforms containing the alternatively spliced exon V3 are modified with heparan sulfate (HS). Binding studies with three HS-binding growth factors, basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), heparin binding...

Though CD44 functions as a cell surface receptor for hyaluronan (HA) in some cell lines, most normal hematopoietic cells expressing CD44 do not bind HA. Certain CD44-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can rapidly induce CD44-mediated HA binding in normal murine T cells. This observation suggests that in vivo mechanisms may exist for activating the HA receptor function of CD44 on normal T cel...