INCREASED SERUM LEVELS OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA ARE CORRELATED TO SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 CONCENTRATIONS IN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been shown to induce shedding of ICAM-1. Experimental studies report that soluble intercellular adhesi on molecule-1 (sICAM-1) may interfere with the host immunesurveillance system. Serum levels of TNF-alpha and sICAM-1 were determined by ELIS A in 112 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Serum concentrat ion of TNF-alpha and sICAM-1 were related to tumor burden and progress ion; a significant correlation was observed between circulating levels of TNF-alpha and sICAM-1. Our study suggests that ICAM-1 could be a m arker of TNF-alpha activity and that high levels of these molecules ma y have a prognostic value in lung cancer.