Neural cell adhesion molecule-180 expression as a prognostic criterion in colorectal carcinoma: feasible or not?

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG 2007-11, Vol.13 (41), p.5476-5480
• Main Authors: Tascilar, Oge, Cakmak, Güldeniz Karadeniz, Tekin, Ishak Ozel, Emre, Ali-Ugur, Ucan, Bulent Hamdi, Irkorucu, Oktay, Karakaya, Kemal, Gül, Mesut, Engin, Hüseyin Bülent, Comert, Mustafa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Cell Differentiation; Colorectal Neoplasms - chemistry; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Colorectal Neoplasms - mortality; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - therapy; Feasibility Studies; Female; Flow Cytometry - methods; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules - analysis; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Rapid Communication
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i41.5476

To evaluate the frequency of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-180 expression in fresh tumor tissue samples and to discuss the prognostic value of NCAM-180 in routine clinical practice. Twenty-six patients (16 men, 10 women) with colorectal cancer were included in the study. Fresh tumor tissue samples and macroscopically healthy proximal margins of each specimen were subjected to flow-cytometric analysis for NCAM-180 expression. Flow-cytometric analysis determined NCAM-180 expression in whole tissue samples of macroscopically healthy colorectal tissues. However, NCAM-180 expression was positive in only one case (3.84%) with well-differentiated Stage II disease who experienced no active disease at 30 mon follow-up. As a consequence of the limited number of cases in our series, it might not be possible to make a generalisation, nevertheless the routine use of NCAM-180 expression as a prognostic marker for colorectal carcinoma seems to be unfeasible and not cost-effective in clinical practice due to its very low incidence.