Abstract
Background: The epithelial transmembrane molecule E-cadherin (E-Cad) is the prime mediator of epithelial cell-cell adhesion, through homotypic interactions. It also participates in the maintenance of cytoskeletal structure and cell-cell signalling, while there are no published reports of expression of E-Cad in non-epithelial tissues. We examined whether the circulating levels of soluble E-Cad in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are of prognostic significance. Patients and Methods: We used an ELISA method to determine the levels of circulating soluble E-cadherin (sE-Cad) in 21 newly diagnosed patients with MM and in 29 healthy volunteers, as a control group. Results: MM patients demonstrated increased circulating levels of sE-Cad, compared with controls (p<0.0001). Increased circulating sE-Cad levels correlated with LDH levels at diagnosis (p<0.001) and poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that sE-Cad levels are an independent prognostic factor of survival (p<0.0207). Conclusion: Our data suggest that adhesion molecules play a role in the pathogenesis of MM, establish sE-Cad as an independent marker of survival and, finally, provide evidence of non-epithelial production of E-Cad in MM patients.
Footnotes
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Abbreviations. BM, bone marrow; BM SCs, bone marrow stromal cells; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; E-Cad, E-cadherin (epithelial-cadherin); ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule; MM, multiple myeloma; NCAM, neural cell adhesion molecule; PECAM, platelet epithelial cell adhesion molecule; PCL, plasma cell leukemia; sE-Cad, soluble E-cadherin; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; TGF-β transforming growth factor-beta; VCAM, vascular cell adhesion molecule; VLA, very late antigen.
- Received December 8, 2003.
- Accepted February 10, 2004.
- Copyright© 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved