Evaluation of ALCAM, PECAM-1 and selectin levels in intracranial meningiomas

- Adhesion molecules are involved in the process of inflammation and thereby in the pathophysiology of several type of tumors.
- This is the first study performed in meningiomas demonstrating the high levels of selectins, ALCAM and PECAM-1.
- Further studies are needed to support the current findings to develop therapies to make surgical resections more effective.

ObjectivesCell adhesion molecules play a major role in various pathological states. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tissue levels of selectins (E-, L-, and P-Selectins), activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in intracranial meningiomas and compare with the levels in control tissues.Patients and methods20 consecutive patients who were operated on meningiomas (grade-I: 17 and grade-II: 3) and 15 cerebral tissues obtained during the autopsy procedures as a resource for the healthy controls were included in this study.ResultsAll three selectins', ALCAM and PECAM-1 levels were found to be significantly higher in meningiomas when compared with the control tissues (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.001), respectively.ConclusionsAccording to our results, the adhesion molecules were found to be higher in meningiomas suggesting that they may be involved in the pathological process of this type of brain tumors. We conceive that developing alternate therapies such as immunotherapeutic approaches against brain tumors might be amendatory in the treatment. Since this is the first study performed in meningioma type brain tumors demonstrating and comparing the levels of various adhesion molecules with control tissues, further clinical and experimental studies are needed to support our current findings with higher number of patients.