FUCOSE LEVELS IN SERA AND IN TUMORS OF COLORECTAL ADENOCARCINOMA PATIENTS

Fucose levels were determined in normal and tumour-derived tissues fro m patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. Total, free and bound fucos e were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the tumoral tissue. Compari son of serum fucose levels between patients with colorectal cancer and control subjects indicated no statistically significant differences i n total, free and bound fucose expressed as nmol/ml serum. However, wh en total and bound fucose were normalized to total protein (nmol/mg pr otein), an elevation in both parameters was found in colorectal cancer patients, although only that for total fucose was statistically signi ficant (P < 0.001). A clear association between fucose content and cli nical stage of patients according to the Dukes' classification can not be established, although patients at stage C showed higher levels of fucose both in serum and tissue. The current investigation provides di rect evidence of a relationship between the elevation of fucose and th e presence of tumour in colorectal cancer patients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.