Effect of radiation on serum glycoproteins and glycosidases in patients with cervical carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The serum glycan moieties of glycoproteins and the activities of glycosidases were analyzed in order to elucidate the metabolism of glycoprotein in uterine cervical cancer.


METHODS
Serum was collected from patients at different stages of cervical cancer before and after treatment. The results were analyzed using Student's t-test.


RESULTS
The glycan moieties such as sialic acid and fucose were significantly elevated even in the early stages of carcinoma, whereas a significant elevation in hexose and hexosamine levels was observed only in the advanced stages. Among the investigated lysosomal glycohydrolases, beta-D-galactosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and alpha-L-fucosidase activities were elevated significantly at all stages except for stage I. The altered levels of glycoproteins and glycosidases were reduced to near-normal levels after radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of glycan moieties and the activities of glycosidases can be used as diagnostic markers to assess the stage of cancer and can be used as prognostic markers during therapy.
Bhuvarahamurthy
V
V
Cancer Biology Division, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, India.
Balasubramanian
N
N
Vijayakumar
S
S
Govindasamy
S
S
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001918:Brachytherapy; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases