ObjectiveTo study the relationship between the expression of sialyl Lewisx (SLeX) antigen and CD44v6 products and biological behaviors in cholangiocarcinomas. MethodsThe expression of SLeX and CD44v6 in 43 cases of cholangiocarcinoma tissue was respectively investigated by catalyzed signal amplification immunohistochemical technique.The relationship between expression of SLeX and CD44v6 and the clinicopathological factors of cholangiocarcinoma was analyzed.ResultsThe positive expression rate of SLeX and CD44v6 in cholangiocarcinoma was 67.4% and 62.8% respectively,which was significantly higher than that in control group (20.0%,P＜0.05).The high level expression of SLeX and CD44v6 were correlated with the TNM phase, differentiation degree,metastasis to lymph nodes and viscera in cholangiocarcinoma (P＜0.05). Moreover,there was a positive correlation between the SLeX and CD44v6 expression in cholangiocarcinoma (r=0.49,P＜0.001).Conclusion Expression of SLeX and CD44v6 could be helpful in predicting the biological behavior and prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma.
