Evaluation of Serum Total and Lipid Associated Sialic Acid as a Tumor Marker in Breast Malignancy

Abstract

Carcinoma of the breast is the third most common cancer in the world. Such increasing Global Incidence Emphasises the need to find a tumor marker for detecting and monitoring the response to treatment. Hence estimation of Sialic Acid, which is simple, cheap and no sophistication requiring investigation is undertaken. 50 cases are histologically confirmed breast malignancy, between the age group 20 to 70 years were studied. In addition 8 cases of Benign tumors of breast and 7 cases of breast abscess were also studied. In these cases Total Sialic Acid (TSA) , Lipd Associated Sialic Acid (LASA) and Serum Total Proteins (TP) were analyzed before treatment and after treatment. 50 healthy females are also studied as controls and analysed for the same parameters. TSA and LASA were estimated by spectrophotometric method using Resorcinol and Serum Total Proteins were estimated by HENRY'S method. TSA /TP and LASA/ TP Ratios were calculated. The Serum TSA, TSA /TP, LASA and LASA/ TP values are significantly increased in breast malignancy as compared to healthy controls. Significant decreases occur in Sialic Acid concentration, after treatment indicating usefulness of Sialic Acid as a marker to monitor the progress of disease to effective treatment.