The assessment of serum levels of sICAM-1, CEA and CA19-9 in colon cancer patients pre- & post-operation
Immunology Department, Isfahan Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Aim: we have investigated the serum levels of soluble Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in order to compare with the commonly accepted tumor markers, such as carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in a group of patients who were diagnosed for colon cancer pre- & post-operation in the Isfahan University hospitals. Methods: The patient serums before and 3-4 months after operation were taken and the molecule assessment performed by photometric enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Results: The pre-operative levels of serum soluble molecules of patients were as follows: sICAM-1=781±219 ng/ml, CEA= 53.6±22.7ug/l and CA19-9=103±125.5 U/ml respectively. In addition, the data obtained from healthy subjects shows the basal levels for sICAM-1=179±39 ng/ml, CEA=3.6±1.6 ug/l and CA19-9=14.5±9 U/ml respectively. However, after operation the mean ± sd of samples indicate the following for sICAM-1=585±148 ng/ml, CEA=41.3±26.5ug/l and CA19-9=85±125 U/ml respectively. The serum level of CA19-9 in 26% of patients did not significantly change when compared with the basal levels in control group. Statistical analysis did not show any correlation between the serum levels in either molecule markers in cases. In majority of cases significant decreased levels of soluble markers were observed in post-operative assessment. Conclusion: these results suggest a potential role for sICAM-1 similar to CEA as a molecule marker with high sensitivity for evaluation and follow up the colon cancer patients.
Paper presented at the International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies; Nice, France; February 7 - 10, 2004; in poster session 797 (Manifestations of cancer).