Hyaluronan, CD44, and cyclooxygenase-2 in colon cancer

Carcinomas arising from colon epithelia develop or progress in a stromal microenvironment that is elevated in hyaluronan; interactions between elevated hyaluronan and the CD44 receptors on epithelial tumor cells activate an HA-receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated cell survival pathway. In this review we provide evidence that the hyaluronan-ErbB2-PI3kinase/AKT-beta-catenin-COX-2 signaling axis leads to intestinal epithelial and colon tumor cell division and proliferation. This review includes a summary of the authors work over the past years as well as citations of specific reviews related to role of hyaluronan in the pathogenesis of colon cancer.