A critical analysis of the use of sialic acid determination in the diagnosis of malignancy.
The measurement of serum sialic acid in sera from individuals with leukemia, breast, gastrointestinal, lung and bladder cancers, brucellosis and manic depression is described. The serum sialic acid levels were also examined in mice bearing Landschutz ascites tumours. The presence of sialic acid-enriched glycopeptides in serum was shown. The results indicate that while sialic acid may be significantly elevated in sera of some tumour-bearing individuals, it is not solely tumour-derived. Its application as a tumour marker is limited and requires critical analysis.
O'Kennedy
R
R
School of Biological Sciences, Dublin City University, Republic of Ireland.
Berns
G
G
Moran
E
E
Smyth
H
H
Carroll
K
K
Thornes
R D
RD
O'Brien
A
A
Fennelly
J
J
Butler
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000097:blood; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D011402:Pronase; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000097:blood; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000652:urine; D013729:Terpenes / Q000633:toxicity; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000097:blood
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006020:Glycopeptides; D012794:Sialic Acids; D013729:Terpenes; C009042:pristane; D011402:Pronase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid