F. Martini et al., CA 19-9 monosialoganglioside content of human colorectal tumor cells correlates with tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation, ANTICANC R, 20(3A), 2000, pp. 1609-1614
Background: Gangliosides are involved in tumor cell-induced platelet aggreg
ation (TCIPA). CA 19-9 is a monosialoganglioside detected in colon carcinom
a cells. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate whether there was a
ny correlation between the CA 19-9 monosialoganglioside content and TCIPA.
Materials and Methods: The CA 19-9 content was determined on gangliosidic e
xtracts of human colorectal tumor cells (GEO, WiDr, DLD-1, MIP) in comparis
on with the degree of TCIPA. Results: CA 19-9 was detected in all cell line
s, except MIP. The mean CA 19-9 content was 10.2, 30.2 and 82.6 U/mu g of s
ialic acid for GEO, DLD-1 and WiDr, respectively CA 19-9 content directly c
orrelated with TCIPA (p<0.0001). Furthermore, incorporation of exogenous ga
ngliosides in GEO cells resulted in an increase of CA 19-9 content, paralle
led by a concomitant increase of TCIPA. Conclusions: The CA 19-9 monosialog
anglioside may be involved in platelet/tumor cell interactions thus playing
an important role in the haematogenous metastases of colorectal cancer.