Application of CD44v5 Adhesion Molecule for the Identification and Differentiation of Endocervical Glandular Dysplasia/Neoplasia From Reactive Endocervical Glandular Cells

Abstract

CD44v5 is a member of the cell adhesion molecule family that has been recently suggested as a sensitive marker of endocervical adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of CD44v5 to identify endocervical adenocarcinoma (EAC) and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and differentiate these lesions from the reactive lesion microglandular hyperplasia (MH) in both surgical and cytology specimens. Fifteen cases of EAC with 4 corresponding cytology smears, 7 cases of AIS with 3 corresponding cytology smears, and 23 cases of MH with 8 corresponding cytology smears were selected. The CD44v5 immunoreactivity of AIS and EAC were compared with that of MH. CD44v5 was considered positive when >10% cells were stained. Of 15 EACs, 13 (86.7%) were positive for CD44v5. All 7 of 7 (100%) of our AIS cases were positive for CD44v5. Among the MH cases, 23 (100%) of 23 were negative for CD44v5. Correspondingly all 7 (100%) cytological smears of adenocarcinomas (4 EAC, 3 AIS) were CD44v5 positive, whereas all 8 cytological smears of corresponding MH cases were CD44v5 negative. The membrane staining pattern of CD44v5 was diffuse and intense (3+ to 4+) in all cases. CD44v5 may be used as an ancillary marker to identify endocervical neoplasia/dysplasia and differentiate these lesions from reactive endocervical cells in surgical pathology specimens and gynecologic cytology smears. (The J Histotechnol 28:239, 2005)