Abstract
ICAM-l(Intercellular adhesion molecule-1) is an important early marker of immune activation and response. ICAM-1 is expressed on varous cell types and observed in a variety of diseases, including patients with asthma, melanoma, prostatic cancer, ovarian and colon cancer. Some authors demonstrated the expression of ICAM-1 protein in high-grade intraepithelial squamous neoplasia of cervix by immunohistochemistry and suggested that the expression was related to human papillomavirus infection. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, Serum levels of sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), We evaluate invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (40), carcinoma in situ (16) and control (15) patients. Serum levels of sICAM-1 in healthy volunteers, in parients with carcinoma in situ and invasive cervical cancer were 150.1+/-41.3, 182.7+/-105.9, 189.8+/-60.0 ng/ml, respectively. Although the serum levels of sICAM-1 in patients with carcinoma in situ did not increase, serum levels of ICAM-1 in patients with invasive cervical cancer were significantly increased (control vs invasive cervical cancer, p < 0,05). From the above results, sICAM-1 is shed from the cancerous tissue in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.