Clinical significance of total and lipid bound sialic acid levels in oral pre-cancerous conditions and oral cancer.
BACKGROUND
Altered glycosylation of glycoconjugates is among the important molecular changes that accompany malignant transformation. The purpose of our study was to investigate clinical usefulness of circulatory levels of total and lipid bound sialic acid for early diagnosis and management of oral cavity cancer patients.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 41 untreated oral cancer patients, 20 patients with oral pre-cancerous conditions (OPC) and 20 healthy subjects. Serum sialic acid (total and lipid bound) levels were measured spectrophotometrically.


RESULTS
Serum levels of total and lipid bound sialic acid were significantly elevated (P < 0.001) in untreated oral cancer patients as compared to healthy individuals as well as patients with OPC. Multivariate analysis documented that the progressive rise in total and lipid bound sialic acid was significantly associated (P = 0.0001 and 0.039, respectively) with stage of malignant disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The data revealed significant elevations in sialic acid levels in oral cancer patients and suggested potential utility of these parameters in diagnosis as well as determining clinical stage of the malignant disease.
Rajpura
Kinnari B
KB
Department of Oral Pathology and Bacteriology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Asarwa, Admedabad, India. kinnari77@rediffmail.com
Patel
Prabhudas S
PS
Chawda
Jyoti G
JG
Shah
Raksha M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D012794:Sialic Acids; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins