The Significance of the Variable Region of the CD44 Antigen in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Elaheh Gheybi; Pejman Hosseinzadeh; Vahid Tayebi-Khorrami; Mehdi Rostami; Mohammad Soukhtanloo

doi:10.18502/abi.v3i1.19345

The Significance of the Variable Region of the CD44 Antigen in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Elaheh Gheybi

Pejman Hosseinzadeh

Vahid Tayebi-Khorrami

Mehdi Rostami

Mohammad Soukhtanloo

Abstract

In the field of cancer biology, elucidating the factors that promote cancer cell invasion and progression is crucial for the identification of novel therapeutic targets. CD44 has emerged as a vital biomarker with significant implications for innovative treatment modalities, particularly in immunotherapy. This receptor is predominantly expressed on cancer stem cells, which play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and contribute to therapeutic resistance. Elevated levels of CD44 are associated with aggressive cancer phenotypes, including enhanced metastatic potential and increased resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, targeting CD44 may enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments. Notably, CD44 exists in multiple isoforms, each exhibiting unique expression patterns across different tissues and types of cancer, highlighting the need for a refined approach to clinical targeting. The variations among these isoforms can influence tumor behavior and treatment responses, underscoring the importance of understanding these distinctions for the optimization of therapeutic strategies. This review aims to delineate key aspects of breast cancer, emphasize the significance of the CD44 biomarker, and explore the implications of its isoforms in diagnosis and treatment. By scrutinizing these elements, we seek to clarify the role of CD44 in cancer biology and its potential for enhancing treatment approaches in breast cancer and other malignancies.

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Issue	Vol 3 No 1 (2025)
Section	Review Article(s)
DOI	https://doi.org/10.18502/abi.v3i1.19345
Keywords
breast cancer cancer stem cells CD44 variable region diagnosis treatment

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Gheybi E, Hosseinzadeh P, Tayebi-Khorrami V, Rostami M, Soukhtanloo M. The Significance of the Variable Region of the CD44 Antigen in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer. ABI. 2025;3(1):6-16.

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