Serum level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in children with malignant lymphoma

Objective: To estimate the serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (s-ICAM-1) in children newly diagnosed with lymphoma and to correlate levels of s-ICAM-1 in lymphoma patients with clinical stage, pathological types, clinical and laboratory data and patient outcome.

Subjects and methods: Thirty-five children with newly-diagnosed malignant lymphoma (Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, NHL: 23), Hodgkin's disease (HD: 12), and 8 apparently healthy subjects of matched age and sex taken as a control group were studied. For the patients and control group, the following tests were performed: complete blood count, and the following biochemical investigations: liver function tests, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and soluble ICAM-1 estimation using ELISA. In addition, for patients, pathological examination of lymph node biopsy for pathological grading, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were done. Patients were observed for over 12 months or until death.

Results: Serum ICAM-1 increased more in HD and NHL than in the control group (p < 0.000); also s-ICAM-1 increased in advanced stages and high-grade NHL (p < 0.008, 0.04, respectively). LDH levels were higher in patients compared to controls (p < 0.000). There was a positive correlation between high levels of s-ICAM-1 and increased levels of LDH in HD (r = 0.72, p < 0.008) and a positive correlation between high levels of s-ICAM-1 and increased ALT in NHL patients. A positive correlation between s-ICAM-1 levels and the presence of B symptoms in HD and NHL, and a positive correlation between elevated s-ICAM-1 levels and worse outcome in HD and NHL were detected.

Conclusions: The data indicate that in children with malignant lymphoma, high serum levels of ICAM-1 correlated with tumor aggressiveness, and quantification of s-ICAM-1 levels may identify a subgroup of children with worse prognosis. Therefore, detection of s-ICAM-1 levels in children with malignant lymphoma might represent an additional disease-associated marker for use in the clinical management of the patients.