Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in gastrointestinal neoplasias.

Abstract

a) perhaps because of its higher aggressiveness, pancreatic cancer is associated with low serum N-CAM levels unlike other gastrointestinal neoplasias; b) the association between aggressiveness and reduced N-CAM levels is borne out by the correlation found with the grade of differentiation; c) the reduced levels found in chronic pancreatitis suggest that this molecule plays a role in stromaparenchymal interactions, which might be altered in the presence of fibrotic phenomena.