Serum-soluble E-cadherin fragments in lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
E-cadherin, also known as uvomorulin or cell-CAM 120/80, is one of the subclasses of cadherins, CA(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules. Several recent studies have suggested that loss of E-cadherin may be associated with tumor progression, such as in lung, gastric, hepatocellular, breast and prostatic carcinoma. Assessment of E-cadherin serum levels in lung cancer showed a relation to histologic type.


METHODS
Using an enzyme immunoassay, we determined E-cadherin serum levels in 79 patients affected with lung cancer (stage I-IV), 9 patients with breast cancer, 23 patients with different benign diseases, and 20 healthy patients.


RESULTS
At a specificity level of 90%, E-cadherin diagnostic sensitivity was 66.6%, 47.6% and 43.7% in patients affected with squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results suggest the use of serum E-cadherin as a prospective tumor marker.
Cioffi
M
M
Istituto di Patologia Generale e Oncologia, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Gazzerro
P
P
Di Finizio
B
B
Vietri
M T
MT
Di Macchia
C
C
Puca
G A
GA
Molinari
A M
AM
D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015820:Cadherins