Evaluation of glycoprotein constituents in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Alterations in serum levels of several glycoprotein constituents are reported to be useful for treatment monitoring of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine efficacy of sialic acid and seromucoid fraction as treatment monitors for head and neck (H&N) cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT).


METHODS
Serum levels of total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA), and seromucoid fraction (measured as Mucoid protein [MP] and hexose) were studied in age matched controls and in patients with H&N cancer at diagnosis and during/after completion of RT. The markers were estimated by spectrophotometric methods.


RESULTS
Serum levels of sialic acid forms and seromucoid fraction were significantly elevated (p<.001) in untreated H&N cancer patients (n = 32) as compared with controls (n = 50). The marker levels were significantly declined (p<.001) in H&N cancer patients who responded to RT as compared with their levels at diagnosis, whereas the levels were persistently elevated in nonresponders.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of sialic acid forms and seromucoid fraction could be used for monitoring the treatment of H&N cancer patients undergoing RT.
Rawal
R M
RM
Department of Cancer Biology, The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Asarwa, Ahmedabad, India.
Patel
P S
PS
Patel
B P
BP
Raval
G N
GN
Patel
M M
MM
Bhatavdekar
J M
JM
Dixit
S A
SA
Patel
D D
DD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid