Significance and correlation of CD44v6 and survivin tissue expressions in breast cancer

Objective: To investigate the relationship between CD44v6 and survivin expressions, and determine the biological behavior of breast cancer, and explore the clinical significance of the two tumor marker proteins in breast cancer patients. Methods: CD44v6 and survivin expressions were examined in the tissues of 64 breast cancer patients (breast cancer group) and 12 patients with benign breast diseases (control group) via immunohistochemistry. The breast cancer group was divided into three subgroups based on CD44v6 and survivin tissue expressions: Arm A (two markers positively expressed), Arm B (one marker positively expressed), and Arm C (neither of the markers positively expressed). Results: The positive expression rates of CD44v6 and survivin were 57.81% and 25.00% (P = 0.037) in the breast group and 73.43% and 8.33% (P = 0.000) in the control group, respectively. The differences in the expression between the two groups were statistically significant. The overexpressions were correlated with the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), but not with patient age, tumor diameter, histology classification, and grade (P > 0.05). The mean survival time (MST) of Arm A, Arm B, and Arm C were (84.07 ± 6.69), (103.89 ± 6.77), and (115.50 ± 7.42) months, respectively. Their 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 74.19%, 90.91%, and 10.00%; and 35.48%, 59.09%, and 72.73%, respectively (χ² = 6.316, P = 0.043). The differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: The specific overexpressions of CD44v6 and survivin occur in breast cancer and normal breast tissues. The overexpressions were correlated with the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis, but not with age, tumor diameter, histology classification, and grade. Patients who exhibited CD44v6 and survivin overexpressions had a higher lymph node metastatic rate and low survival time. Detecting both CD44v6 and survivin expressions is a reliable method of evaluating the treatment and diagnosis of breast carcinoma.