title: Value of the serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the value of the serum levels of alpha-L-fucosidase activity in the diagnosis of patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a fluorometric method we analyzed the alpha-L-fucosidase activity in preoperative sera from 137 colorectal cancer patients and in sera from 232 donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The enzymatic activity of alpha-L-fucosidase was significantly lower (p <0.001) in patients (4.8+/-3.09 U/ml) than in donors (10.5+/-5.46 U/ml). Using the ROC curve, the ideal cut-off for the diagnostic value of alpha-L-fucosidase activity was determined to be 5.6 U/ml. The diagnostic efficiency for colorectal cancer of alpha-L-fucosidase activity was higher than that observed for carcinoembryonic antigen (cut-off 5.0 ng/ml), especially for tumors at an early stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that preoperative serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity may be used as a cheap and easy complementary test, in addition to standard clinical procedures routinely used for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayude
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Rodríguez
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Berrocal
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Martínez-Zorzano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Carlos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Páez de La Cadena
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase