Serum alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase is associated with diagnosis/prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Serum alpha -N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NaGalase) is responsible for the de glycosylation of vitamin D-3-binding protein (Gc protein). The deglycosylat ed Gc protein cannot be converted into major macrophage-activating factor ( MAF), leading to immunosuppression. NaGalase is universally detected in a v ariety of cancer patients, but not in healthy individuals (Cancer Res. 56 ( 1997) 2827-2831), However, the diagnostic/prognostic utility of NaGalase in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix is not known. To addre ss this issue, the serum NaGalase was quantitatively determined in 210 pati ents with different stages of SCC of the uterine cervix. NaGalase levels we re increased with the progression of the cancer. After radiotherapy, the in creased levels returned toward or to normal levels in early stages (FIGO st age I-IIB) but not in advanced stages (FIGO stage III-IV), The present stud y revealed that the amount of NaGalase in the patient's bloodstream reflect s the tumor burden and aggressiveness of the disease. We conclude that NaGa lase is an independent predictor of diagnosis/prognosis in SCC of the uteri ne cervix, and therefore suggest that quantitative NaGalase alteration may reflect important differences in the immunological functions of these neopl asms. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.