title: Plasma N-acetyl-glucosaminidase  in advanced gastro-intestinal   adenocarcinoma correlates with age,   stage and outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a potential marker of genotoxicity. We retrospectively analyzed plasma NAG and clinico-pathologic features in advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma from 118 patients and 51 healthy volunteers was analyzed for associations between NAG levels and age, disease presence, stage, treatment responses and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pretreatment NAG correlated with age but was independently increased in metastatic versus locally advanced disease, particularly in gastric/esophageal patients. NAG was also associated with reduced overall survival. In subgroup analysis, increased NAG activity between day 1 and 2 of chemotherapy cycle 1 correlated with treatment response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that NAG correlates with gastrointestinal cancer outcomes. Further studies are required to determine if plasma markers of genotoxicity can be useful for disease monitoring.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: von Figura
authors.forename: Zhangfa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.forename: Lucy C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: T R Jeffry
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Karl Lenhard
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bilsland
authors.forename: W Nicol
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Keith
mesh_terms: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000097:blood*; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase