Significance of Serum L-fucose Glycoprotein as Cancer Biomarker in Head and Neck Malignancies without Distant Metastasis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Head and neck neoplasia is a major form of cancer in India, accounting for 30% of all cancers which occur in males and 11% of cancers which occur in females. Elevated serum L-fucose glycoprotein levels have been reported to be associated with neoplastic conditions involving various sites. Therefore, monitoring serum/tissue L-fucose glycoprotein levels could be a promising approach for the early diagnosis and prognosis of head neck cancers.

AIM:

This study was carried out to determine the significance of serum L-fucose levels in head and neck malignancies.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN:

This comparative study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in South India.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Serum L-fucose glycoprotein levels were estimated in 50 patients with histopathologically confirmed head and neck malignancies and they were compared with those of 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:

Student's t-test was used to compare L-fucose glycoprotein levels in study and control groups.

RESULTS:

Most common site of the primary tumour in the current study was oral cavity, followed by larynx, hypopharynx and oropharynx respectively. Comparison of glycoprotein L-fucose in two groups showed more than a two-fold rise in serum fucose levels in cases as compared to the those in controls, with mean values of 11.33±7.39 and 4.74±1.55 mg% in cases and controls respectively. There was no relationship between serum fucose levels and age, sex and tumour differentiation.

CONCLUSION:

Serum glycoprotein L-fucose levels can be used as an effective biochemical indicator in conjunction with clinical diagnostic procedures in head and neck neoplasia and they may be useful for monitoring recurrences.

• Authors: Rathan K S Shetty, Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, Arunava Kali
• Journal: Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR (J Clin Diagn Res) Vol. 7 Issue 12 Pg. 2818-20 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 2249-782X [Print] India
• PMID: 24551646 (Publication Type: Journal Article)