Salivary sialic acid as marker of oral cancer

Abstract

Oral cavity cancer is cause of cancer-related deaths among Indian men. Early detection is the key to treat. Aberrant glycosylation including sialylation in cell membrane are the important events in malignant transformation. Salivary Sialic acid is emerging as the diagnostic marker in recent years. Present study was conducted to estimate total protein, carbohydrate, free and protein bound Sialic acid in saliva of oral cancer patients before and after radiotherapy. Salivary level of total protein (197.5±3.5), carbohydrate (62±4.3), free Sialic acid (4.1±0.1) and protein bound Sialic acid (3.15±0.1) content were significantly increased in oral cancer. On estimation of level of total protein (141.3±1.5), carbohydrate(48.4± 0.7), free Sialic acid (3.5±0.2) and protein bound Sialic acid (2.75±0.5) content Fifteen days after radio therapy were found to be significantly lowered as compared to the value observed before radiotherapy. This shows saliva can be the diagnostic medium and Sialic acid in saliva can become a probable tumor marker in diagnosis of oral cancer.