title: Serum hexosaminidase as a possible biomarker for human cancer.
abstract: The levels of total serum hexosaminidase and of its heat stable isozyme (beta-hexosaminidase) were determined in the sera of subjects bearing ovarian and other female genital cancers and of control subjects. The assays were carried out on a double blind basis. Total hexosaminidase levels were significantly elevated in sera of subjects with female genital cancers and in subjects with ovarian cancer. Levels of beta-hexosaminidase were elevated in all subjects with genital cancer. The hexosaminidase assay may be a convenient biomarker for human cancer since earlier studies have shown that total and beta-hexosaminidase levels are elevated in sera of most cancer patients studied.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000201:enzymology*; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D006596:Hexosaminidases; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases