Level of adhesion molecule expression in primary breast tumors clinically relevant

In primary breast tumors, the RNA level of activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) is an important prognostic indicator, according to a report published online on June 28 in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

“Reduced expression of ALCAM indicates a more aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis,” Dr. Judy A. King, who led the study, told Reuters Health.Dr. King, from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, and colleagues evaluated ALCAM expression in primary breast tumor samples from 120 patients followed for a median of 72 months and in 32 normal breast tissue samples.”Patients with primary breast tumors with low levels of ALCAM transcripts had a worse prognosis than patients with primary breast tumors with high levels of ALCAM transcripts,” Dr. King said.Specifically, decreased ALCAM transcripts in the primary tumor correlated with nodal involvement, higher grade tumors, higher TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) stage, worse NPI (Nottingham Prognostic Index > 5.4), the presence of local recurrence, and death due to breast cancer. “This study suggests that the level of ALCAM expression in primary breast carcinoma has clinical significance,” Dr. King said.ALCAM is an immunoglobulin molecule that has been implicated in cell migration and cell-cell adhesion. “We hypothesize that the decreased level of ALCAM may allow the cells to detach, enter the circulation, and metastasize,” Dr. King told Reuters Health.Additional studies are needed before ALCAM can be used clinically. The current study, Dr. King said, “provides the basis for further studies and points out a protein that might be an important target for drug therapy in the future.”(Source: Breast Cancer Res 2004;5:R478-487: Reuters Health News: Megan Rauscher: Oncolink: July 2004)