Prognostic Impact of Activated Leucocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule (ALCAM/CD166) in Infantile Neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND/AIM: Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM/CD166) as a member of the 'immunoglobulin superfamily' is known to be involved in cancer cell proliferation and migration. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of ALCAM in neuroblastoma tissues.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: ALCAM expression was analyzed in primary neuroblastoma specimens by immunohistochemistry on microarray sections. Histopathological and clinical data were correlated with ALCAM expression and survival analysis was performed.

RESULTS: Sixty-six children were included in the study. Strong expression of ALCAM was detected in 52 (79%) of the samples. Weak expression was significantly correlated with the International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage (p=0.024) and positive n-MYC amplification (p=0.019). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly shorter if ALCAM was expressed weakly (p=0.032 and p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: Weak ALCAM expression was significantly correlated with established markers for poor prognosis, as well as shorter RFS and OS. ALCAM might be considered as a prognostic marker for infantile neuroblastoma.