Expression of CD44 in prostate cancer cells.

Expression of CD44, the cellular hyaluronate receptor, was examined in human prostate cell lines. CD44 mRNA was detected in cell lines PC3 and DU145, both established from organ metastases of prostate adenocarcinoma, but not in cell line LNCaP, established from a lymph node metastasis. PC3 and DU145, but not LNCaP, are tumorigenic and metastatic in nude mice. Of the CD44 mRNA species identified, the standard CD44s as well as variant isoforms CD44v7, CD44v10, CD44v14, CD44v13-v14, CD44v12-v14 and CD44v7-v14 are represented.