ALTERED SERUM AMINO-ACID PROFILES IN HEAD AND NECK-CANCER

Patients who develop squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCC HN) are often malnourished because of poor dietary habits, excessive a lcohol consumption, local tumor effects, tumor-induced cachexia, and t he effects of various therapies. The composition of the diet may be a risk factor for the development of head and neck cancer as well as tum or progression. This study compares the amino acid profiles in the ban ked serum of patients with and without SCCHN. In comparison to the con trol group, patients with SCCHN had significantly decreased preoperati ve serum levels of alanine (p = 0.006), asparagine (p = 0.002), aspart ic acid (p = 0.0001), glycine (p = 0.0002), histidine (p = 0.002), 3-m ethylhistidine (p = 0.001), ornithine (p = 0.001), phenylalanine (p = 0.002), serine (p = 0.002), taurine (p < 0.0001), and threonine (p = 0 .001). Levels of cystine were significantly elevated in the group of c ancer patients (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were noted an the basis of T stage, N stage, or nutritional status. Serum levels inc reased postoperatively for the majority of the amino acids tested Post operative histidine levels were associated with tumor recurrence (p = 0.04). Serum amino acid levels may prove to be useful markers of disea se status and provide prognostic information.