title: Evaluation of serum and salivary total sialic acid and α-l-fucosidase in patients with oral precancerous conditions and oral cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared serum and salivary total sialic acid/total protein (TSA/TP) ratios and α-l-fucosidase activity in patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPCs) and oral cancer to better understand the utility of saliva, in monitoring early changes occurring during oral cancer progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 100 oral cancer patients, 50 patients with OPC, and 100 controls was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum and salivary TSA/TP ratios and α-l-fucosidase activity were significantly higher in OPC and oral cancer patients compared to the controls. Also, levels were higher in controls and oral cancer patients with tobacco habits as compared to those without tobacco habits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salivary TSA/TP ratio and α-l-fucosidase activity were elevated with higher magnitude than serum levels. These results suggest that a larger study may prove the use of these saliva biomarkers as a noninvasive method for detecting early changes occurring during oral carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Research Division, The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Bhairavi N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Vajaria
authors.forename: Kinjal R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Rasheedunnisa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: Franky D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Jayendra B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Shilin N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: Prabhudas S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D064424:Tobacco Use; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005644:alpha-L-Fucosidase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid