EXPRESSION OF CD44, ICAM-1 AND N-CAM IN COLORECTAL-CANCER - CORRELATION WITH THE TUMOR STAGE AND THE PHENOTYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TUMOR-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES

The cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) CD44s, CD44v6, CD44v10, ICAM-1 and N-CAM were immunohistologically detected in colorectal cancers usi ng the APAAP method. The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 was associated with the presence of lymphnode metastases in the examined tumors. The pattern of ICAM-1 expression was inversely related to that of CD44, i .e. lower numbers of ICAM-1 positive cells were observed in metastasiz ing tumors. An intense focal staining of N-CAM was observed in the maj ority of the metastasizing tumors. The expression of CD44v, ICAM-1 or N-CAM on tumor cells did not correlate with the density of the tumor-i nfiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) within the tumors. The flowcytometric an alysis of TIL showed a significant accumulation of CD25+ and HLA-DR+ c ells and a reduced number of CD45RA+ cells as compared to autologous p eripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) or intraepithelial lymphocytes of th e colon mucosa (IEL), These phenotypic characteristics of TIL did not correlate with the CAM expression on tumor cells.