Serum alpha L-fucosidase enzyme activity in ovarian and other female genital tract tumors.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the value of serum alpha-L-fucosidase as a tumor marker in the diagnosis of ovarian and other female genital tract tumors.

METHODS:

One-hundred fifty-one patients were studied; 101 had different genital tract tumors (malignant ovarian tumors (48), carcinoma of the cervix (13), endometrial carcinoma (6), carcinoma of the vulva (6) and benign tumors (28)). A control group of 50 healthy female patients was included. Serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity was determined in all patients and controls. Serum CA 125 level was also determined in patients with malignant ovarian tumors.

RESULTS:

patients with malignant ovarian tumors showed the lowest level of alpha-L-fucosidase activity in comparison to other malignant and benign tumors of the female genital tract and also in comparison to malignant ovarian tumors.

RESULTS:

Patients with malignant ovarian tumors showed the lowest level of alpha-L-fucosidase activity in comparison to other malignant and benign tumors of the female genital tract and also in comparison to control group. The majority of ovarian carcinoma patients (90%) had a serum level of < 275 u/ml of alpha-L-fucosidase activity, while more than 90% of the control group and other genital tumors had a serum level of > 275 u/ml. The sensitivity and specificity of serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity in diagnosing epithelial ovarian tumors were 88.5% and 98%, respectively (using a cut-off level of < 275 u/ml). The corresponding figures for CA 125 were 96.2% and 100% (using a cut-off level of > 35 u/ml).

CONCLUSIONS:

Serum alpha-L-fucosidase enzyme activity can be useful as a tumor marker in diagnosing advanced malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. Its sensitivity and specificity are comparable to CA 125. However, there is a lack of data to support its usefulness in the diagnosis of early stage disease (Stage 1). The cost of doing the test is one-third that of CA 125 and the test can be more widely applied in developing countries.

• Authors: H Abdel-Aleem, A Ahmed, A M Sabra, M Zakhari, M Soliman, H Hamed
• Journal: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Int J Gynaecol Obstet) Vol. 55 Issue 3 Pg. 273-9 (Dec 1996) ISSN: 0020-7292 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9003953 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CA-125 Antigen
• alpha-L-Fucosidase

Topics

• Adult
• Analysis of Variance
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood, metabolism)
• CA-125 Antigen (blood, metabolism)
• Female
• Genital Neoplasms, Female (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Ovarian Neoplasms (diagnosis, enzymology)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• alpha-L-Fucosidase (blood, metabolism)