Biological implications of circulating soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in colorectal cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is assumed to play a role in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. We evaluated the relationship between local expression of ICAM-1 and the circulating level of sICAM-1, and clarified its biological implications.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of sICAM-1 in 94 colorectal cancer patients were determined. Tissue concentrations of sICAM-1 in the tumor, colorectal adenoma, and the normal mucosa were also determined. The expression of ICAM-1 in the tumor was evaluated immunohistochemically.


RESULTS
The serum concentration of sICAM-1 in the patients was significantly higher than that in the controls, and the tumor size was the independent pathological factor that was associated with the serum ICAM-1 level. ICAM-1 immunoreactivity was seen intensively in the stromal cells in the tumor. The tissue concentration of sICAM-1 in the normal mucosa was significantly lower than that in the adenoma and the early carcinoma. The tissue concentration of sICAM-1 in the advanced carcinoma significantly decreased in association with the increase in tumor size. This fluctuation of ICAM-1 expression in the tumor was also associated with the metastatic potential even at an early stage of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The tissue concentration of sICAM-1 increased during tumorigenesis and at an early stage of carcinoma, and decreased in association with progression of the disease. Serum sICAM-1 level reflected the fluctuation of ICAM-1 expression in the tumor. Evaluation of serum concentration of sICAM-1 may be associated with tumor load and can reflect disease progression in colorectal cancer patients.
Araki
T
T
Dept. of Surgery II, Mie University Medical School, Tsu, Japan.
Miki
C
C
Kusunoki
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1