Ledermann J A, Pasini F, Olabiran Y, Pelosi G
Department of Oncology, University College London Medical School, UK.
Int J Cancer Suppl. 1994;8:49-52. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910570710.
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a tumour-related antigen found on the surface of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). NCAM exists in several molecular forms, including a soluble isoform. We have measured serum levels of NCAM using an enzyme immunoassay with 2 antibodies, NCC-LU-246 and NCC-LU-243, that react with different epitopes on the NCAM molecule. NCAM activity from 83 patients with active SCLC, either pre-treatment, progressing or in relapse was significantly higher than in 70 patients on follow-up. Overall, 40% of patients with active SCLC and 7% patients on follow-up had serum levels of NCAM > 2SD above controls; 61% of patients with relapsed SCLC had elevated levels of NCAM. Pre-treatment NCAM levels were significantly higher in 35 patients with "extensive" disease than in 19 patients with "limited" disease. Serum NCAM activity was also significantly higher in patients with tumour infiltration of the bone marrow. This difference could not be explained solely by the presence of "extensive" disease. Serum NSE levels in these patients were correlated with NCAM activity. The presence of raised serum NCAM in active disease and in patients in relapse suggests that this antigen could be used as a target for antibody-directed therapy of micrometastases.
神经细胞黏附分子（NCAM）是一种在小细胞肺癌（SCLC）表面发现的肿瘤相关抗原。NCAM以多种分子形式存在，包括一种可溶性异构体。我们使用两种与NCAM分子上不同表位发生反应的抗体NCC-LU-246和NCC-LU-243，通过酶免疫测定法测量了血清中NCAM的水平。83例处于治疗前、病情进展或复发期的活动性SCLC患者的NCAM活性显著高于70例接受随访的患者。总体而言，40%的活动性SCLC患者和7%的接受随访患者的血清NCAM水平高于对照均值2个标准差；61%的复发SCLC患者NCAM水平升高。35例“广泛期”疾病患者的治疗前NCAM水平显著高于19例“局限期”疾病患者。骨髓有肿瘤浸润的患者血清NCAM活性也显著更高。这种差异不能仅用“广泛期”疾病的存在来解释。这些患者的血清NSE水平与NCAM活性相关。活动性疾病患者和复发患者血清NCAM升高表明该抗原可作为微转移抗体导向治疗的靶点。
