Correlation between CD44 and membrane fluidity—a study on biopsies of high-grade serous ovarian tumor

The functioning of the cell plasma membrane depends on its lipid and protein compositions [1]. Changes in membrane physiochem-ical characteristics, such as fluidity, are associated with normal cellular physiology [2] and tumor malignancy [3]. As an extensively distributed cell surface marker, CD44 is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of many cancerous cells, including ovarian cancer cells [4]. A previous study on a cell model indicated that the level of CD44 might be correlated with the fluidity of the plasma membrane [5]. However, no study has been reported on either the status of plasma membrane fluidity or the levels of CD44 in human tumors. In the present report, we studied the status of