Circulating soluble adhesion molecules E-cadherin, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in patients with gastric cancer

The concentrations of the soluble adhesion molecules E-cadherin, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were investigated in 45 patients with gastric cancer before treatment and their correlation with clinical, histological and routine laboratory parameters was examined. Data were collected on tumour stage at presentation, presence and sites of metastatic disease, tumour pathology, survival and results of routine laboratory tests. Serum concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the patients with gastric cancer in comparison with the group of healthy subjects (P < 0.00001 and P < 0.0001 respectively). Increased serum concentrations of VCAM-1 were associated with locally advanced and metastatic disease whereas ICAM-1 was significantly elevated both in local and in advanced/metastatic disease. Soluble E-cadherin and E-selectin concentrations did not show any significant elevation in gastric cancer patients. Concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules showed significant correlation with each other (except E-selectin and VCAM-1) and with alkaline phosphatase. Soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were significantly associated with an elevated total white cell count. Patients with elevated VCAM-1 had significantly poorer survival in comparison with patients with normal serum levels (P = 0.0361).