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Soluble Neural-cadherin as a novel biomarker for malignant bone and soft tissue tumors
Background:
Neural-cadherin (N-cadherin) is one of the most important molecules involved in tissue morphogenesis, wound healing, and the maintenance of tissue integrity. Recently, the cleavage of N-cadherin has become a focus of attention in the field of cancer biology. Cadherin and their ectodomain proteolytic shedding play important roles during cancer progression. The aims of this study are to investigate the serum soluble N-cadherin (sN-CAD) levels in patients with malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, and to evaluate the prognostic significance of the sN-CAD levels.
Methods:
We examined the level of serum sN-CAD using an ELISA in 80 malignant bone and soft tissue tumors (bone sarcoma, n = 23; soft tissue sarcoma, n = 50; metastatic cancer, n = 7) and 87 normal controls. The mean age of the patients was 51 years (range, 10-85 years) and the mean follow-up period was 43 months (range, 1-115 months).
Results:
The median serum sN-CAD level was 1,267 ng/ml (range, 135-2,860 ng/ml) in all patients. The mean serum sN-CAD level was 1,269 ng/ml (range, 360-2,860 ng/ml) in sarcoma patients, otherwise 1,246 ng/ml (range, 135-2,140 ng/ml) in cancer patients. The sN-CAD levels in patient were higher than those found in the controls, who had a median serum level of 108 ng/ml (range, 0-540 ng/ml). The patients with tumors larger than 5 cm had higher serum sN-CAD levels than the patients with tumors smaller than 5 cm. The histological grade in the patients with higher serum sN-CAD levels was higher than that in the patients with lower serum sN-CAD levels. A univariate analysis demonstrated that the patients with higher serum sN-CAD levels showed a worse disease-free survival rate, local recurrence-free survival rate, metastasis-free survival rate, and overall survival rate compared to those with lower serum sN-CAD levels. In the multivariate analysis, sN-CAD was an independent factor predicting disease-free survival.
Conclusions:
sN-CAD is a biomarker for malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, and a potentially valuable pre-therapeutic prognostic factor in patients with bone and soft tissue sarcoma.
Insights
Serum soluble N-cadherin (sN-CAD) is elevated in patients with malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. Higher sN-CAD levels correlate with larger tumors, higher grade, and poorer survival, indicating its prognostic value.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Neural-cadherin (N-cadherin) is crucial for tissue integrity and morphogenesis.
- Cleavage and shedding of N-cadherin are implicated in cancer progression.
- Investigating serum soluble N-cadherin (sN-CAD) in bone and soft tissue tumors is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure serum sN-CAD levels in patients with malignant bone and soft tissue tumors.
- To assess the prognostic significance of sN-CAD levels in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify serum sN-CAD.
- Study included 80 patients with bone/soft tissue tumors and 87 healthy controls.
- Follow-up duration averaged 43 months.
Main Results:
- Serum sN-CAD levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls.
- Elevated sN-CAD correlated with larger tumor size (>5 cm) and higher histological grade.
- Higher sN-CAD levels predicted worse disease-free, metastasis-free, and overall survival rates.
Conclusions:
- Serum sN-CAD serves as a biomarker for malignant bone and soft tissue tumors.
- sN-CAD is a valuable pre-therapeutic prognostic factor for bone and soft tissue sarcoma patients.
