Endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1-mediated vasoinvasion of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma

The sialyl Lewis antigens, the ligands of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), have been used as important tumor markers for the digestive system. The expression of two sialyl Lewis antigens, sialyl Lewis A antigen (SLea) and sialyl Lewis X antigen, was examined in human pancreatic cancer cells. The expression of SLea was dominant, as shown by flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, suppressive effects of anti-SLea antibody and anti-ELAM-1 antibody on human pancreatic cancer cell vasoinvasion were demonstrated using a new assay system, the vasoinvasion chamber. These results suggest the critical involvement of SLea and ELAM-1 molecules in human pancreatic cancer cell vasoinvasion.