Trl. Griffiths et al., CELL-ADHESION MOLECULES IN BLADDER-CANCER - SOLUBLE SERUM E-CADHERIN CORRELATES WITH PREDICTORS OF RECURRENCE, British Journal of Cancer, 74(4), 1996, pp. 579-584
Sera from 40 patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer (28 superfic
ial rumours (pTa and pT1) and 12 muscle-invasive tumours) were assesse
d by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the concen
trations of soluble E-cadherin (sE-cadherin), soluble E-selectin (sE-s
electin), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and solu
ble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1). Corresponding frozen
sections of primary tumour were analysed for E-cadherin expression usi
ng the monoclonal antibody, HECD-1 and standard immunohistochemistry.
Patients with bladder cancer had significantly higher concentrations o
f sE-cadherin compared with a control group (P=0.017). No difference w
as found between the two groups with regard to sE-selectin (P=0.403),
sVCAM-1 (P=0.942) and sICAM-1 (P=0.092). High levels of sE-cadherin we
re related to poor histological grade (P=0.009), number of superficial
rumours at presentation (P=0.008) and a positive 3 month check cytosc
opy in superficial disease (P=0.036). Abnormal E-cadherin expression w
as associated with increasing tumour stage (P=0.009) and grade (P=0.03
). There was no correlation between high levels of soluble E-cadherin
in sera and abnormal E-cadherin expression by the tumour (P=0.077). El
evated levels of sE-cadherin are found in sera of patients with bladde
r cancer and correlate with known prognostic factors.