Fas is a widely expressed membrane-anchored protein that induces apoptosis. Soluble Fas (sFas), generated by alternative mRNA splicing, can antagonize cell-surface Fas function. We have investigated sFas in 104 cancer patients with nonhematopoietic malignancies using a Fas-specific ELISA and immunoprecipitation. Our studies demonstrate an elevated 40-42-kDa sFas species in both patient serum and tumor explants. These observations provide the first evidence that sFas is increased in patients with solid tumors in a manner reflective of disease stage and tumor burden and argue that sFas can be synthesized and released both systemically and locally within the tumor microenvironment.

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Supported by United States Public Health Service Grant CA55195 (to L. B. O-S.), American Cancer Society Grant IM-723 (to L. B. O-S.), a Southern Medical Association Research Project grant, a fellowship research grant from the American Cancer Society, Texas Division (to G. P. M.), and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center support core Grant CA16672 from the National Cancer Institute.

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©1996 American Association for Cancer Research.
1996
American Association for Cancer Research, Inc.