BACKGROUNDThere have been a lot of studies about surface adhesion molecule (CD44) in recent years, however study on osteopontin (OPN) is still few. The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of OPN and CD44v6 in lung cancer and their correlation.

METHODSOPN and CD44v6 expression were detected in 78 lung cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe positive rate of OPN and CD44v6 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was 58.46% and 66.15% respectively, but no positive case in small cell lung cancer. The expression of OPN and CD44v6 in NSCLC was closely related to TNM stages (P < 0.01), but not to cell differentiation (P > 0.05). There was a remarkably positive correlation between the expression of OPN and CD44v6 (r=0.255, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe co-expression of OPN and CD44v6 may be involved in progression and metastasis of lung cancer. The interrelationship of OPN and CD44v6 was coordinative with development and metastasis of lung cancer. It might be helpful to predict the metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC.