Background: The serum-soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) is reported to correlate with both the metastatic potential and a poor prognosis. We analyzed the sICAM-1 concentrations and investigated whether or not the serum levels of these adhesion molecules in the peripheral venous blood could help predict the clinical staging in patients with NSCLC.
Methods: From January to December 1999, 66 patients (79.5%) underwent either a lobectomy or a pneumonectomy with a mediastinal lymph node dissection at the National Sanatorium Nishi-Gunma Hospital.
Results: The sICAM-1 concentration in the NSCLC patients was a mean value of 212.0+/-106.6 ng/ml. In contrast, the concentration of sICAM-1 in 20 healthy controls was a mean value of 117.9+/-64.1 ng/ml. In patients with NSCLC, the sICAM-1 concentrations were significantly higher than in the normal control group (p=0.002). In addition, the difference in the serum concentrations was significant between the patients with T1 and T2 disease (p=0.042), and N0 and N2 patients (p=0.042). No significant differences were observed in aging, smoking history, histological type, or pathological staging.
Conclusions: The sICAM-1 concentrations in lung cancer patients are thus suggested to play a role in staging, and may also serve as a useful indicator of advanced disease.