CA 19-9 monosialoganglioside content of human colorectal tumor cells correlates with tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation.
BACKGROUND
Gangliosides are involved in tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA). CA 19-9 is a monosialoganglioside detected in colon carcinoma cells. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate whether there was any correlation between the CA 19-9 monosialoganglioside content and TCIPA.


METHODS
The CA 19-9 content was determined on gangliosidic extracts of human colorectal tumor cells (GEO, WiDr, DLD-1, MIP) in comparison with the degree of TCIPA.


RESULTS
CA 19-9 was detected in all cell lines, except MIP. The mean CA 19-9 content was 10.2, 30.2 and 82.6 U/microgram of sialic acid for GEO, DLD-1 and WiDr, respectively. CA 19-9 content directly correlated with TCIPA (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, incorporation of exogenous gangliosides in GEO cells resulted in an increase of CA 19-9 content, paralleled by a concomitant increase of TCIPA.


CONCLUSIONS
The CA 19-9 monosialoganglioside may be involved in platelet/tumor cell interactions, thus playing an important role in the haematogenous metastases of colorectal cancer.
Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
F
F
Martini
F
F
Guadagni
L
L
Lenti
R
R
D'Alessandro
S
S
Aloe
M
M
Roselli
P P
PP
Gazzaniga
P
P
Ferroni
D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D005732:Gangliosides; C025447:sialogangliosides