Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in head and neck cancer

Systemic inflammation factors as survival prognosis markers in ovarian neoplasm and the relationship with cancer-associated inflammatory mediators-a review

At the level of the genital system, ovarian neoplasm is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality. In the specialized literature, the coexistence of an inflammatory process is admitted from the early stages of the evolution of this pathology. Starting from the importance of this process, both in determinism and in the evolution of carcinogenesis and summarizing the field of knowledge, for this study we considered two objectives: the first was the presentation of the pathogenic mechanism, through which chronic +ovarian inflammation is involved in the process of carcinogenesis, and the second is the justification of the clinical utility of the three parameters, accepted as biomarkers of systemic inflammation: neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio in the assessment of prognosis. The study highlights the acceptance of these hematological parameters, with practical utility, as prognostic biomarkers in ovarian cancer, based on the intrinsic link with cancer-associated inflammatory mediators. Based on the data from the specialized literature, the conclusion is that in ovarian cancer, the inflammatory process induced by the presence of the tumor, induces changes in the types of circulating leukocytes, with immediate effects on the markers of systemic inflammation.

High VCAM-1 Predicts Poor Prognosis and is Associated with Chemotherapy Resistance in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Purpose

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor endemic in southern China and Southeast Asia with a poor prognosis. Vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1) is highly expressed in NPC; however, it is unclear whether VCAM-1 is correlated with chemotherapy resistance and prognosis in NPC.

Patients and Methods

To further explore the role of VCAM-1 in chemotherapy resistance and prognosis in NPC, we examined the expression of VCAM-1, the sensitivity of chemotherapy drugs, and clinical follow-up data from 73 patients with NPC. Then, the results of VCAM-1 expression were analyzed in response to chemotherapy drugs, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

The expression of VCAM-1 protein in NPC was significantly higher than that in chronic inflammatory tissue. No significant differences in the expression of VCAM-1 among gender, age, pathologic classification, tumor classification, lymph node status, metastasis status, and overall clinical stage were found. The periods of PFS and OS in patients with high VCAM-1 expression were significantly shorter than those in patients with low VCAM-1 expression. The sensitivity rates of NPC to eight chemotherapy drugs were different; carboplatin and docetaxel showed the highest chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance rates, respectively. The resistance rates to paclitaxel were different between the patients with high VCAM-1 expression and those with low VCAM-1 expression.

Conclusion

Our data indicated that VCAM-1 was highly expressed in NPC. Patients with high VCAM-1 expression were more prone to shorter periods of PFS and OS. VCAM-1 could be a prognostic marker of NPC patients. The detection of VCAM-1 expression in NPC may be valuable for chemotherapy drug evaluation and management of patients with NPC in the clinic.

How patients with an intact immune system develop head and neck cancer

Although the adaptive immune system can detect and eliminate malignant cells, patients with intact and fully functional immune systems develop head and neck cancer. How is this paradox explained? Manuscripts published in the English language from 1975 to 2018 were reviewed using search inputs related to tumor cell antigenicity and immunogenicity, immunodominance, cancer immunoediting and genomic alterations present within carcinomas. Early in tumor development, T cell responses to immunodominant antigens may lead to the elimination of cancer cells expressing these antigens and a tumor composed to tumor cells expressing only immunorecessive antigens. Conversely, other tumor cells may acquire genomic or epigenetic alterations that result in an antigen processing or presentation defect or other inability to be detected or killed by T cells. Such T cell insensitive tumor cells may also be selected for in a progressing tumor. Tumors harboring subpopulations of cells that cannot be eliminated by T cells may require non-T cell-based treatments, such as NK cell immunotherapies. Recognition of such tumor cell populations within a heterogeneous cancer may inform the selection of treatment for HNSCC in the future.

Deciphering Endothelial Dysfunction in the HIV-Infected Population

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), as a possible consequence of endothelial dysfunction, is prevalent among HIV-infected patients despite successful administration of antiretroviral drugs. This warrants the routine clinical assessment of endothelial function in HIV-positive patients to circumvent potential CVD events. Several different non-invasive strategies have been employed to assess endothelial function in clinical research studies yielding inconsistencies among these reports. This review summarises the different techniques used for assessing endothelial function, with a focus on proposed blood-based biomarkers, such as endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), TNF-α, interleukin 6 (IL6) and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM). The identification of suitable blood-based biomarkers, especially those that can be measured using a point-of-care device, would be more applicable in under-resourced countries where the prevalence of HIV is high.

A systematic approach to prioritize drug targets using machine learning, a molecular descriptor-based classification model, and high-throughput screening of plant derived molecules: a case study in oral cancer

Network-based and cheminformatics approaches identify novel lead molecules forCXCR4, a key gene prioritized in oral cancer.

Cell adhesion molecules, the extracellular matrix and oral squamous carcinoma

Carcinomas are characterized by invasion of malignant cells into the underlying connective tissue and migration of malignant cells to form metastases at distant sites. These processes require alterations in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. As cell adhesion molecules play a role in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion and interactions they are involved in the process of tumour invasion and metastases. In epithelial tissues, receptors of the integrin family mediate adhesion to the adjacent matrix whereas cadherins largely mediate intercellular adhesion. These and other cell adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, CD44, dystroglycans and selectins, are involved and undergo changes in carcinomas, which provide possible targets for anti-cancer drug treatments. In the extracellular matrix that is associated with tumours, laminin 5, oncofetal fibronectin and tenascin C appear. The degree of expression of some of these moieties indicates prognosis in oral cancer and offer targets for antibody-directed radiotherapy. Metalloproteases which degrade the extracellular matrix are increased in carcinomas, and their activity is necessary for tumour angiogenesis and consequent invasion and metastases. Metalloprotease inhibitors have begun to produce decreases in mortality in clinical trials. This report provides a brief overview of our current understanding of cell adhesion molecules, the extracellular matrix, tumour invasion and metastasis.

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma demonstrate enhanced serum and tissue ceruloplasmin expression

The proteomics approach was adopted to study the simultaneous expression of serum proteins in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We have subjected unfractionated whole sera of ten newly diagnosed Malaysian Chinese patients with WHO type III NPC to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and image analysis. The results obtained were then compared to that generated from sera of ten normal healthy controls of the same ethnic group and range of age. Our data demonstrated that the serum high abundance 2-DE protein profiles of NPC patients were generally similar to that of the controls, with exception of the ceruloplasmin (CPL) spots (identified by mass spectrometric analysis and MASCOT database search), which showed higher expression. The enhanced expression of CPL in the patients' sera was confirmed by competitive ELISA. Immunohistochemical analysis of nasopharyngeal lesions of NPC patients demonstrated moderate to strong positive CPL staining in the cytoplasm of cells at the regions of malignancy but only weak cytoplasmic staining at normal epithelial lining areas. When follow-up 2-DE and ELISA studies were performed on five of the NPC patients who responded positively to six months treatment, the difference in CPL expression was no longer significant.

Clinical evaluation of serum concentrations of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in patients with colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the correlation between the serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and the clinicopathologic features and to evaluate the possible prognostic significance of sICAM-1 concentration in colorectal cancer.

METHODS: A total of 56 patients (mean age 57.3 years) having transitional cell carcinoma of the colorectal and 25 control patients (mean age 42.6 years) were enrolled in the study. The serum samples of the patients were obtained on the day before surgery. Sera were obtained by centrifugation, and stored at -80°C until assay. Serum concentrations of ICAM-1 were measured with enzyme-linked immunoassay. Differences between the two groups were analyzed by Student’s t-test.

RESULTS: No significant increase of serum sICAM-1 could be demonstrated in the Dukes A₁ patients (352.63 ± 61.82 μg/L) compared to the control group (345.72 ± 49.81 μg/L, P>0.05), Dukes A₁ patients (352.63 ± 61.82 μ g/L) compared to Dukes A_2,3 patients (491.17 ± 86.36 μg/L, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the patients with Dukes B had significantly higher serum concentrations of sICAM-1 than those of the control group (496.82 ± 93.04 μg/L vs 345.72 ± 49.81 μg/L, P < 0.01). Compared with Dukes A_2,3, B colorectal cancer patients, patients with more advanced clinical stage (Dukes C and D) had higher levels of sICAM-1 (743.68 ± 113.74 μg/L vs 491.17 ± 86.36 μg/L and 496.82 ± 93.04 μg/L, P < 0.001). The difference was statistically significant in sICAM-1 levels between patients with positive lymph node status and those without lymph node involvement (756.25 ± 125.57 μg/L vs 445.62 ± 69.18 μg/L, P < 0.001). Patients with poorly differentiated colorectal cancer had a higher level of sICAM-1 than those with differentiated and highly differentiated cancer (736.49 ± 121.97 μg/L vs 410.23 ± 67.47 μg/L, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: In this study, serum ICAM-1 levels were found to be related to tumor presence, clinical stages, and grade. Increased ICAM-1 in patients with colorectal cancer which should be considered when the diagnostic and/or prognostic usefulness of soluble ICAM-1 is to be evaluated. sICAM-1 should prove useful for monitoring malignant disease stage and for evaluating the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches for colorectal carcinomas.

Clinical significance of circulating endothelial adhesion molecules (sE-selectin and sICAM) in untreated multiple myeloma patients

BACKGROUND

The expression of adhesion molecules is important for the interaction of myeloma cells with the bone marrow microenvironment. In the current study, serum soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sE-selectin) were measured in untreated multiple myeloma (MM) patients in relation with other markers of disease activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study group consisted of 67 patients with MM (classified according to the Durie-Salmon classification) and 15 controls. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), sICAM-1 and sE-selectin concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the monoclonal protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were also determined.

RESULTS

Serum sICAM-1 level increased significantly at advanced stages of MM and was higher in comparison to controls (p<0.01). sE-selectin increased significantly with advancing stage of the disease, but did not differ from controls. IL-6, ESR and M-component were significantly higher and Hb concentrations lower with advancing stage of disease. There was a positive correlation of IL-6 with sICAM-1 and sE-selectin.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that serum sICAM-1 differs in multiple myeloma patients from normals and together with sE-selectin increase in parallel to increasing stage of disease, which may reflect a dysregulation and possible involvement of these adhesion molecules in myeloma progression.

Evaluation of the levels of bFGF, VEGF, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 in serum of patients with thyroid cancer

Tumour growth and development depend on a complex cascade of angiogenic factors. The aim of the study is evaluation of the level of growth factors VEGF and bFGF, and adhesion molecules sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 in the serum of patients with papillary thyroid cancer. The study comprised 35 patients aged 21-68 years (mean age 46+/-14) who had papillary thyroid cancer diagnosed on the basis of thin needle aspiration biopsy, and were qualified for operative treatment. This group comprised 28 women and seven men. The control group was 26 healthy individuals. Serum concentrations of bFGF, VEGF, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. We have observed significantly higher mean concentrations of bFGF, VEGF, and sICAM-1 in the serum of patients with thyroid cancer compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between the sVCAM-1 concentrations of the thyroid cancer group and the control group.

Estimation of concentration of chosen adhesive factors in suprarenal tumours of 'incidentaloma' type

The role of adhesive molecules in the pathogenesis of adrenal gland tumours formation remains unclear. Here we present the concentrations of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in the blood of patients with adrenal "incidentaloma". We found that the mean concentrations of sVCAM and sICAM in the serum of the patients with adrenocortical cancers were significantly higher than those of the patients with benign adenomas or control cases. These results suggest that the levels of adhesion molecules may be a marker of malignancy of adrenal incidentalomas.

Cell adhesion molecules and oral cancer

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are found on the surfaces of all cells, where they bind to extracellular matrix molecules or to receptors on other cells. As well as having a structural role, CAMs function as signaling receptors, transducing signals initiated by cellular interactions which regulate many diverse processes, including cell division, migration, and differentiation. Cell adhesion molecules are essential for maintaining stable tissue structure. However, cell adhesion must be dynamic to facilitate the mobility and turnover of cells. In dynamic situations, cells alter their cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions by virtue of altered expression and function of CAMs. The expression of CAMs is normally tightly regulated, thereby controlling cell proliferation, mobility, differentiation, and survival. Many of these processes are misregulated in malignant tumors, and it has been shown that many of the characteristics of tumor cells are attributable to the aberrant expression or function of CAMs. Integrins and E-cadherin are the most important CAMs expressed by stratified squamous epithelium. Altered expression of these molecules has been found in oral carcinoma, where loss of CAM expression is often seen in poorly differentiated lesions. However, up-regulation of certain integrins, such as alphavbeta6, has consistently been found in oral cancer, suggesting that it may play an active role in disease progression.

Down regulation of endothelial adhesion molecules in node positive breast cancer: possible failure of host defence mechanism

Endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are important in tumorigenesis and host defense mechanism. Their status in breast cancer with regard to nodal invasion is not yet known. Hence we looked at the expression of three important CAMs: VCAM, ICAM and E-selectin. A downregulation of all these CAMs was noted in node positive breast cancer in comparison to node negative cases. This suggests shedding of these molecules in cases with nodal metastasis which might help the tumor cells to escape the host defense mechanism. On multi-variate analysis, VCAM alone emerged as an independent predictor of nodal metastasis.

Oral cancer in vivo gene expression profiling assisted by laser capture microdissection and microarray analysis

Large scale gene expression profiling was carried out on laser capture microdissected (LCM) tumor and normal oral epithelial cells and analysed on high-density oligonucleotide microarrays. About 600 genes were found to be oral cancer associated. These oral cancer associated genes include oncogenes, tumor suppressors, transcription factors, xenobiotic enzymes, metastatic proteins, differentiation markers, and genes that have not been implicated in oral cancer. The database created provides a verifiable global profile of gene expression during oral carcinogenesis, revealing the potential role of known genes as well as genes that have not been previously implicated in oral cancer.

Clinical implications of biomarkers in head and neck cancer

The term biomarker refers to a host of biologic factors found within a tumor or other clinical specimen that can be used to assess the tumor in some way. Biomarkers have many potential clinical applications. Before they are used in actual clinical settings, however, they must be carefully validated. The literature contains many reports of this ongoing work related to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Candidate biomarkers for this disease include the p53 gene and its protein; microsatellite regions throughout the genome; human papillomavirus; proteins involved in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and intracellular adhesion; epithelial growth factor receptor; and various measures of immune response to cancer. The best new evidence for the validity of each of these candidates is critiqued in this review.

A ligand of human thy-1 is localized on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes and mediates the binding to activated thy-1-positive microvascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts

Thy-1 is known to be expressed on fibroblasts, nerve cells, and blood stem cells. Previous studies have shown the induction of Thy-1 on phorbol ester stimulated human dermal microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. In situ Thy-1 expression was found on activated endothelium. In this study we were interested in the localization of a Thy-1 ligand and the characterization of the function of Thy-1 on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Human Thy-1 purified from fibroblast extracts was labeled and used as a probe for the detection of a Thy-1 ligand. In cryostat sections of bullous pemphigoid skin a Thy-1 ligand was found on inflammatory cells, whereas the Thy-1 antigen was expressed on the endothelial cells and fibroblasts. By flow cytometry we could show the expression of a Thy-1 ligand on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes, whereas lymphocytes did not express this Thy-1 ligand. To study whether Thy-1 is involved in cell-cell adhesion we separated Thy-1-positive and Thy-1-negative cells by magnetic cell separation using the monoclonal antibody AS02. Cell adhesion assays and blocking experiments revealed a direct involvement of the Thy-1/Thy-1 ligand interaction in the binding of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes to Thy-1-positive activated endothelial cells and fibroblasts.