CELL-ADHESION MOLECULES IN BLADDER-CANCER - SOLUBLE SERUM E-CADHERIN CORRELATES WITH PREDICTORS OF RECURRENCE

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.