Cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin supergene family and their role in malignant transformation and progression to metastatic disease

Abstract

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) of the immunoglobulin supergene family may play important roles in tumorigenesis and the development of metastatic disease. In a variety of human malignancies, tumor progression has been observed to be associated with changes in CAM expression. An early event in colorectal tumorigenesis appears to be the down regulation of a normally expressed CAM, DCC. Over-expression of a second CAM, carcinoembryonic antigen, is associated with colorectal tumors which have a high risk for metastasis development. Several tumors, including Wilms tumors and neuroblastoma, have been found to express a developmentally regulated form of NCAM which inhibits a variety of cell-cell interactions. Malignant cells not only show aberrations in the expression of their CAMS and thus their normal cell-cell interactions, but establish new adhesive interactions. The development of metastatic potential in cutaneous melanoma is associated with the de novo expression of two CAMs, one of which is ICAM-1, a molecule mediating adhesion between the tumor cells and leukocytes.

Quantification of cellular adhesion molecules on malignant B cells from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

“…Thus, our results suggest the possibility that CAM expression could be related to differences in spontaneous aggressiveness. These results are in agreement with various reports showing that high levels of CD54 were associated with aggressive tumours, such as high grade NHL, 31,37 progressive melanomas 38 and advanced stage transitional cell bladder cancer. 39 Strong expression of CD11a has been demonstrated in both highly aggressive and indolent tumours, such as active myeloma 40 and low grade NHL, 8,41 respectively.…”

Reduced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in ovarian adenocarcinomas

“…It is postulated that ICAM-1 expression on tumour cells may mediate their attachment to activated leukocytes, promote the migration of individual cells away from the primary tumour and enhance endothelial binding, extravasation and invasion into surrounding tissues (Johnson, 1991). In contrast, other investigators have reported a negative correlation between ICAM-1 expression and tumour growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer and breast cancer and found that patients with ICAM-1-positive tumours had a better prognosis than those whose tumours did not (Shibata et al, 1996;Ogawa et al, 1998).…”

“…Tumour progression is associated with changes in the expression of cellular adhesion molecules which accompany the disaggregation of individual cells from the primary tumour and their penetration through the basement membrane, migration through the blood or lymph vessels, and attachment to a distant site (Johnson, 1991). Adhesion molecules are also required to provide 'co-stimulatory' antigenindependent interactions between leukocytes and target cells in the initiation of a cellular immune response against tumour cells (Springer, 1990).…”

Encapsulated human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by alginate gel beads as an in vitro metastasis model

“…The metastatic cells have been characterized by extensive expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) [3], adhesion-related molecules [4] and activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway [5] during malignant progression to increase tumor cell motility and invasiveness. To study the underlying mechanisms of the metastatic cells, in vitro models are preferred candidates when eliminating variables and decreasing intraexperimental variability.…”