Phase Tissue Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Expression in Nude Mice Human Liver Cancer Metastasis Model

AIM:To study the phase cancer tissue intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression of human cancer metastasis model in nude mice, and to analyze the relationship between ICAM-1 expression and the metastasis and recurrence of hepatocellular cancinoma (HCC).METHODS:HCC tissues from liver cancer metastasis model in nude mice (LCI-D20) was orthotopically implanted, and ICAM-1 expression in HCC tissues at different growing time were detected by immunodot blot.Tumor size, intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis foci were observed by naked eyes and under light microscope.RESULTS:ICAM-1 was positively correlated to the tumor growing time (r = 0.88, P < 0.01) and tumor size r =0.5, P < 0.05). It was higher in metastatic HCC than in nonmetastatic HCC (8.24 ± 0.95 vs 3.03 ± 0.51, P < 0.01). ICAM-1 content in cancer tissues increased suddenly after metastasis occurred and then maintained in a high level. ICAM-1 was also higher in multimetastasis group than in monometastasis group (10.05 ± 1.17 vs 5.48 ± 0.49, P <0.05 =.CONCLUSION:Tissue ICAM-1 could predict not only the metastasis of human liver cancer metastasis model in nude mice early and sensitively, but also the metastasis degree. So tissue ICAM-1 may be a potential index indicating the status of metastasis of HCC patients.