BACKGROUND: The epithelial transmembrane molecule E-cadherin (E-Cad) is the prime mediator of epithelial cell-cell adhesion, through homotypic interactions. It also participates in the maintenance of cytoskeletal structure and cell-cell signalling, while there are no published reports of expression of E-Cad in non-epithelial tissues. We examined whether the circulating levels of soluble E-Cad in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are of prognostic significance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used an ELISA method to determine the levels of circulating soluble E-cadherin (sE-Cad) in 21 newly diagnosed patients with MM and in 29 healthy volunteers, as a control group. RESULTS: MM patients demonstrated increased circulating levels of sE-Cad, compared with controls (p<0.0001). Increased circulating sE-Cad levels correlated with LDH levels at diagnosis (p<0.001) and poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that sE-Cad levels are an independent prognostic factor of survival (p<0.0207). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that adhesion molecules play a role in the pathogenesis of MM, establish sE-Cad as an independent marker of survival and, finally, provide evidence of non-epithelial production of E-Cad in MM patients.
BACKGROUND: The epithelial transmembrane molecule E-cadherin (E-Cad) is the prime mediator of epithelial cell-cell adhesion, through homotypic interactions. It also participates in the maintenance of cytoskeletal structure and cell-cell signalling, while there are no published reports of expression of E-Cad in non-epithelial tissues. We examined whether the circulating levels of soluble E-Cad in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are of prognostic significance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used an ELISA method to determine the levels of circulating soluble E-cadherin (sE-Cad) in 21 newly diagnosed patients with MM and in 29 healthy volunteers, as a control group. RESULTS: MM patients demonstrated increased circulating levels of sE-Cad, compared with controls (p<0.0001). Increased circulating sE-Cad levels correlated with LDH levels at diagnosis (p<0.001) and poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that sE-Cad levels are an independent prognostic factor of survival (p<0.0207). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that adhesion molecules play a role in the pathogenesis of MM, establish sE-Cad as an independent marker of survival and, finally, provide evidence of non-epithelial production of E-Cad in MM patients.
Authors: Gunnar Jacobs; Stephan Hellmig; Klaus Huse; Andrea Titz; Andre Franke; Ruta Kwiatkowski; Stephan Ott; Markus Kosmahl; Wolfgang Fischbach; Ralph Lucius; Wolfram Klapper; Ulrich R Fölsch; Jochen Hampe; Stefan Schreiber; Philip Rosenstiel Journal: Haematologica Date: 2011-04-01 Impact factor: 9.941
Authors: Ombretta Repetto; Paolo De Paoli; Valli De Re; Vincenzo Canzonieri; Renato Cannizzaro Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-09-16 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: M C Rapanotti; L Franceschini; T M Suarez Viguria; C Ialongo; D Fraboni; R Cerretti; G De Angelis; L Pupo; M Rizzo; M Cantonetti; M Postorino; M T Voso; F Lo-Coco Journal: Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis Date: 2018-11-01 Impact factor: 2.576