Serum concentrations of the soluble adhesion molecules slCAM-1 and sVCAM-1in patients with head and neck tumors

Background. Adhesion molecules are implicated in various stages of tumor pr ogression and metastasis. Soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule- 1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were recently d escribed. The aim of this study was to determine a differences in concentra tion of these molecules in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcin oma (HNSCC) compared to healthy controls. Patients and methods. We investigated the circulating levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in sera from patients with various head and neck squamous cell car cinomas (n=52) as well as from normal, healthy controls (n=35). Serum conce ntrations were determined as serum immunoreactivity by using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. For statistical analysis, the Stude nt's t-test was performed. Results. The majority of the patients with HNSCC were found to have high co ncentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. The mean level of sICAM-1 in patients was 313 ng/ml and in the control group 237 ng/ml (P=0.0005). The mean level of sVCAM-1 in patients was 624 ng/ml and in the control group 435 ng/ml (p =0.009). The concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly highe r in HNSCC patients. Conclusions. These results show the difference in expression of these adhes ion molecules in patients with HNSCC compared to healthy controls. Endothel ial adhesion molecule determination may find clinical applications in the f ollow-up of cancer therapy. For this reason, studies incorporating the long itudinal follow-up of patients are required.