Serum concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with colorectal cancer

The concentrations of the soluble adhesion molecules E-cadherin, E-selectin , intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion mol ecule-1 (VCAM-1) were investigated in 48 patients with colorectal cancer be fore treatment, and their relation to clinical, histological and routine la boratory parameters was examined. Data were collected on tumour stage at pr esentation, presence and sites of metastatic disease, tumour pathology and results of routine laboratory tests. Serum concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCA M-1 were significantly elevated in the patients with colorectal cancer in c omparison with a group of healthy subjects (P < 0.00001). Levels of circula ting ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were increased both in patients with local and those with metastatic disease. Although elevated in some patients soluble E-cadh erin and E-selectin concentrations were not significantly elevated compared with the control group (P = 0.71 and P = 0.052 respectively). The levels o f circulating ICAM-1 were significantly correlated with those of VCAM-1 and E-selectin. A correlation was also found between the serum concentrations of E-selectin and ICAM-1 and alkaline phosphatase, total white cell count a nd platelet count. VCAM-1 was positively correlated with age and negatively with degree of tumour differentiation and haemoglobin concentration. The b iological implications and possible clinical relevance of these findings ar e discussed.