EFFECT OF RADIATION ON SERUM GLYCOPROTEINS AND GLYCOSIDASES IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL-CARCINOMA

Objective: The serum glycan moieties of glycoproteins and the activiti es of glycosidases were analyzed in order to elucidate the metabolism of glycoprotein in uterine cervical cancer. Methods: Serum was collect ed from patients at different stages of cervical cancer before and aft er treatment. The results were analyzed using Student's t-test. Result s: The glycan moieties such as sialic acid and fucose were significant ly elevated even in the early stages of carcinoma, whereas a significa nt elevation in hexose and hexosamine levels was observed only in the advanced stages. Among the investigated lysosomal glycohydrolases, bet a-D-galactosidase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and alpha-L-fucosid ase activities were elevated significantly at all stages except for st age I. The altered levels of glycoproteins and glycosidases were reduc ed to near-normal levels after radiotherapy. Conclusion: The levels of glycan moieties and the activities of glycosidases can be used as dia gnostic markers to asses the stage of cancer and can be used as progno stic markers during therapy.