It is well documented that tumour cells adhere rapidly to the mesothelium both in vivo and in vitro, and a role for the cell adhesion molecule CD44 and the integrins β1, α2, α3 and α5 in mesothelial invasion has been postulated (Kiyasu et al, 1981; Schlaeppi et al, 1997; Lessen et al, 1999; Strobel and Cannistra, 1999). Here, CD44 is linked to neoplasm.