Abstract
Background: Carbohydrate antigens, such as sialyl Lewisa antigen (s-Lea) and sialyl Lewisx antigen (s-Lex), play an important role in cancer metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Currently, preoperative radiotherapy is used to prevent local recurrence of rectal cancer. We investigated the effects of X-ray irradiation on the carbohydrate antigens s-Lea and s-Lex in vitro. Materials and Methods: The cell surface expressions of s-Lea and s-Lex were determined by flow cytometric analysis at 24 hours after X-ray irradiation of 4 human cancer cell lines. s-Lea and s-Lex functions were quantitated using a monolayer cell adhesion assay with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results: The cell surface expressions of s-Lea and s-Lex decreased at 24 hours after irradiation. s-Lea adhesion to HUVECs monolayers similarly decreased at 24 hours after irradiation. Conclusion: These results may indicate a role for X-ray irradiation in the reduction of liver metastasis in patients with colon cancer.
Footnotes
- Received November 23, 2004.
- Revision received January 17, 2005.
- Accepted February 10, 2005.
- Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved