Evaluation of glycoprotein constituents in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Background. Alterations in serum levels of several glycoprotein constituent s are reported to be useful far treatment monitoring of cancer patients. Th e purpose of this study was to determine efficacy of sialic acid and seromu coid fraction as treatment monitors for head and neck (H&N) cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). Methods. Serum levels of total sialic acid (TSA), lipid-bound sialic acid ( LSA), and seromucoid fraction (measured as Mucoid protein [MP] and hexose) were studied in age matched controls and in patients with H&N cancer at dia gnosis and during/after completion of RT. The markers were estimated by spe ctrophotometric methods. Results. Serum levels of sialic acid forms and seromucoid fraction were sig nificantly elevated (p <.001) in untreated H&N cancer patients (n = 32) as compared with controls (n = 50). The marker levels were significantly decli ned (p <.001) in H&N cancer patients who responded to RT as compared with t heir levels at diagnosis, whereas the levels were persistently elevated in nonresponders. Conclusion. Evaluation of sialic acid forms and seromucoid fraction could b e used for monitoring the treatment of H&N cancer patients undergoing RT. ( C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.