Neural cell adhesion molecule-180 expression as a prognostic criterion in colorectal carcinoma: feasible or not?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the frequency of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-180 expression in fresh tumor tissue samples and to discuss the prognostic value of NCAM-180 in routine clinical practice.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients (16 men, 10 women) with colorectal cancer were included in the study. Fresh tumor tissue samples and macroscopically healthy proximal margins of each specimen were subjected to flow-cytometric analysis for NCAM-180 expression.


RESULTS
Flow-cytometric analysis determined NCAM-180 expression in whole tissue samples of macroscopically healthy colorectal tissues. However, NCAM-180 expression was positive in only one case (3.84%) with well-differentiated Stage II disease who experienced no active disease at 30 mon follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
As a consequence of the limited number of cases in our series, it might not be possible to make a generalisation, nevertheless the routine use of NCAM-180 expression as a prognostic marker for colorectal carcinoma seems to be unfeasible and not cost-effective in clinical practice due to its very low incidence.
Tascilar
Oge
O
Department of Surgery, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, The School of Medicine, Kozlu-Zonguldak 67600, Turkey.
Cakmak
Güldeniz Karadeniz
GK
Tekin
Ishak Ozel
IO
Emre
Ali-Ugur
AU
Ucan
Bulent Hamdi
BH
Irkorucu
Oktay
O
Karakaya
Kemal
K
Gül
Mesut
M
Engin
Hüseyin Bülent
HB
Comert
Mustafa
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules