Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in gastric cancer patients and healthy controls and to evaluate their clinical significance.
Methods: The serum levels of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were measured in 53 patients with gastric cancer and in 39 healthy controls by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and were associated with clinicopathological features, patient survival and established tumor markers.
Results: Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in patients with gastric cancer were significantly higher in comparison with healthy controls. These levels correlated with tumor stage, and with lymph node and distant metastases. Elevated serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were a significant prognostic factor for poor survival but not independent of disease stage and type of resection. Elevated serum ICAM-1 levels correlated significantly with both elevated serum CA 19-9 and elevated CEA levels.
Conclusion: Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in gastric cancer patients correlate with advanced and metastatic disease and with poor prognosis although their use as tumor markers remains to be determined.