title: Comparison of Serum Fucose Levels in Leukoplakia and Oral Cancer Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor markers, designated as a broad group of substances produced by malignancies, could be in the form of biochemical substances, immunological substances, cell surface changes and genetic alterations. Cancer, a disorder of cellular behavior is characterized by alteration of serum glycoproteins. L-fucose, a hexose, which is the terminal sugar in most of the plasma glycoproteins, may be useful as a tumor marker for the detection, monitoring and prognostic assessment of malignancies. The aim of the study was to ascertain the role of serum fucose as a biomarker for early detection of oral cancer and to compare serum fucose levels in healthy controls, leukoplakia and oral cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 60 (100.0%) subjects, who were grouped as 20 (33.3%) control subjects, 20 (33.3%) squamous cell carcinoma patients and 20 (33.3%) leukoplakia patients. Fucose estimation was done using UV-visible spectrophotometry based on the method as adopted by Winzler using cysteine reagent. The results were analyzed statistically using ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed a high significance in serum fucose in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and leukoplakia subjects compared to normal controls. There was a gradual increase in the values noted from control to leukoplakia and to squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimation of serum fucose may be a reliable marker and can be used as an effective diagnostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Lincoln's University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail : darshandevang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Narendra Prakash
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Jayaprasad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anekar
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shivaraja Shankara
authors.forename: Darshan Devang
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Divakar
authors.forename: Abdulaziz Abdullah
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al Kheraif
authors.forename: Ravikumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnaiah
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sebastian
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Hazmi
authors.forename: Shabil Mohamed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mustafa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005643:Fucose / Q000097:blood*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007971:Leukoplakia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005643:Fucose