Do adhesive molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 affect the development and course of gastrointestinal tumors?

Abstract

Solid tumors are composed of two compartments: cancerous cells constituting the essential mass of tumor and stromal tumor cells. Cell-cell and extracellular matrix-cell interactions are mediated by adhesive molecules (CAMs, cell adhesion molecules) and affect the growth, differentiation and migration of tumor cells. Abnormal ICAM expression may underlie in morphological disturbances, loss of cell-to-cell junctions, cytoskeleton disorganization, allowing cancer cells to detach from tumor mass and metastase. The aim of this work is to present the current state of knowledge and results of new research on the expression of selected adhesion molecules: ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer. Recently, the research of adhesion molecules in numerous cancers has been observed. It has been demonstrated that ICAM-1 participates in all stages of oncogenesis. The interaction of the host ICAM-1 with a ligand on a tumor cell and host cell during subsequent metastatic stages may become an attractive target for anticancer treatment. Studies have shown that VCAM-1 plays an important role in the process of tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells and in the neovascularization process. The concentration of soluble VCAM-1 in serum correlates with the expression of VCAM-1 in tumor tissue, and is significantly reduced after surgical removal of the tumor. In this aspect sVCAM-1 can be treated as a sensitive diagnostic and prognostic marker.