Abstract 338: Immunohistochemical expression of CD44/ERM complex proteins in penile carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background: The loco-regional involvement is considered the main complication and cause of death in the natural history of penile carcinoma. Understanding the molecular processes that may be involved in metastatic dissemination would improve the prognostic tools to better evaluate the patients, avoiding the morbidity of unnecessary surgery. Some studies have emphasized the influence of cellular adhesion in the development of tumorigenesis and metastasis as the proteins of complex CD44/ERM (Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin). Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the expression of proteins CD44 and its variant CD44v6, Ezrin and Moesin in squamous cell penile carcinoma, correlating their expression with the clinical-pathological criteria. Material and Methods: Eighty four patients were selected, retrospectively, undergoing surgery for squamous cell penile carcinoma at AC Camargo Cancer Center. The expression evaluation for CD44, CD44v6 Ezrin and Moesin was performed by immunohistochemistry using Ventana® equipment, subsequently analyzed by digital microscopy in Aperio® system. The immunoreactivity of each protein was categorized as positive and negative using a cut-off criteria established by the average percentage obtained. Results: CD44 expression was present in 19 (22.6%) positive cases, CD44v6 in 50 (59.5%), Ezrin in 30 (35.7%) and Moesin in 53 (63.1%). It was observed that the loss of CD44 expression was significantly correlated with recurrence (p = 0.002) and with the glans invasion (p = 0.035); the positive expression of CD44v6 was significantly correlated with the tumor size (p = 0.009) and with recurrence (p = 0.018); the loss of Ezrin expression was significantly correlated with macroscopic invasion (p = 0.028) and with foreskin of invasion (p = 0.015); the positive expression of Moesin was significantly correlated with macroscopic invasion (p = 0.010) and the loss of its expression was significantly correlated with recurrence (p = 0.035). Disease-free survival was significantly influenced by CD44, CD44v6 and Moesin. Conclusion: The expression of CD44, CD44v6, Ezrin and Moesin seems to significantly influence the prognostic factors of penile carcinoma and could be an important molecular marker in the identification of recurrence risk. Citation Format: Juliana B. de Andrade, Fernando A. Soares. Immunohistochemical expression of CD44/ERM complex proteins in penile carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 338. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-338