EXPRESSION OF E-SELECTIN ON ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS OF SMALL VEINS IN HUMANCOLORECTAL-CANCER

E-selectin is an adhesion molecule of endothelial cells that binds to cancer cells mediated by sialyl Lewis A (sLe(a)) or sialyl Lewis X (sL e(x)). It is suspected to be involved in hematogenous metastasis of tu mors. Therefore, it is worth examining E-selectin expression in human colorectal cancer and its hepatic metastasis. In the present study, E- selectin was clearly revealed on the endothelial cells of small vessel s adjacent to cancer nests both in primary and in metastatic nests in immunohistochemistry. In these tissues, E-selectin was observed on the endothelial cells lining the lumen of small vessels. Its expression a djacent to cancer nests appears to be induced through some stimuli by cancer cells, since its degree of expression is inversely correlated t o the distance of the blood vessels from the cancer nests (p < 0.001). Endothelial cells adjacent to the metastatic lesion expressed E-selec tin more extensively than those adjacent to the primary foci. This is also in line with the finding on serum E-selectin levels which were si gnificantly elevated in the metastatic group as compared with the non- metastatic group. The serum E-selectin level may provide useful inform ation in the diagnosis for hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer, al though the results are still tentative. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.