Lack of CD44 variant 6 expression in rectal cancer invasive front associates with early recurrence

Table 2 Intratumoral staining pattern of membranous CD44 variant 6 expression related to treatment group and some clinicopathological variables n (%)

Variable (n = 177)	"Front-positive"(n = 105)	"Front-negative"(n = 72)	P1
Treatment group
Short-course RT	46 (44)	32 (44)
Long-course RT	24 (23)	14 (19)	0.87
Control	35 (33)	26 (36)
Postoperative T
T1-2	43 (41)	21 (29)
T3	55 (52)	42 (58)	0.19
T4	7 (7)	9 (13)
Postoperative N
N0	68 (65)	40 (56)
N1-2	36 (34)	31 (43)	0.37
Nx	1 (1)	1 (1)
2Crm
≤ 2 mm	14 (18)	22 (38)	0.01
> 2 mm	64 (82)	36 (62)
Tumor growth pattern
Expanding	63 (60)	23 (32)	< 0.001
Infiltrating	42 (40)	49 (68)
Disease-specific outcome
Alive without recurrence	68 (65)	39 (54)
Alive with recurrence	3 (3)	12 (17)	0.01
Died of disease	21 (20)	15 (21)
Died of other causes	13 (12)	6 (8)

¹Pearson χ²; P value for difference between “front-positive” and “front-negative” groups;

²Circumferential margin, data available in 136 out of 177 cases. RT: Radiotherapy.