CIRCULATING SOLUBLE ADHESION MOLECULE LEVELS IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA

The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of serum soluble intercel lular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion mo lecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) as parameters of disease activity and to monitor the response to treatment in childr en with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The above soluble adhesio n molecules were determined in the serum of 35 children with ALL and 3 0 healthy children (control group) of the same age range. The samples were obtained before treatment, 6 months after the beginning of the tr eatment (remission of the disease), 6 months after the end of the trea tment and during relapse of the disease. The mean levels of sICAM-1, s VCAM-1 and sE-selectin at the onset of the disease were 646.6 +/- 80.9 ng/ml, 1786 +/- 151.8 ng/ml and 140.5 +/- 17.3 ng/ml, respectively. T hese values were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those of the co ntrol group, which were, 245.8 +/- 25.7 ng/ml, 798.6 +/- 78.9 ng/ml an d 44.7 +/- 18.2 ng/ml respectively. During remission, the mean levels did not differ significantly from those of the control group. After th e end of the treatment the mean levels again did not show any signific ant differences compared to the control group. During relapse the solu ble adhesion molecule mean levels (923.9 +/- 110.1 ng/ml, 2945.7 +/- 3 49.9 ng/ml and 258.2 +/- 5.1 ng/ml) were significantly higher (P < 0.0 01) than those of the control group and also than those obtained durin g remission and after the end of the treatment (P < 0.001). Pearson's correlation coefficient I was computed in order to detect possible lin ear correlations between: (1) sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 (r = 0.632); (2) sIC AM-1 and sE-selectin (r = 0.788) and (3) sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin (r = 0.752). All three cases correspond to P < 0.001, thus indicating stron g linear correlations. Conclusion The levels of soluble circulating ad hesion molecule levels can be utilized for monitoring disease activity of ALL and its response to treatment, as well as for early detection of relapse. Strong linear correlations between the three soluble adhes ion molecules tested suggest that each of them may be sufficient as an indicator.