[A study of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in cervical cancer].

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), one of the adhesion molecules, plays an important role in target-cell lysis by immune cells. In this study we examined the expression of ICAM-1 in 15 cases of cervical cancer. We also examined ICAM-1 expression on cervical cancer cell lines in response to cytokines. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression (4 positive among 15 cases) of ICAM-1 in cervical cancer. Furthermore, the expression of ICAM-1 on cervical cancer was correlated with the degree of mononuclear cell infiltration, bearing CD3. On the other hand, the expression of ICAM-1 was not correlated with Class I or Class II antigens in cervical cancer. The expression of ICAM-1 on cervical cancer cell lines was augmented by in vitro treatment with interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. These results suggest that the expression of ICAM-1 on cervical cancer might be modified by cytokines, and ICAM-1 expression on cervical cancer might augment the host immune reaction. So it will be possible to use cytokines in immunotherapy.