Background: Head and neck neoplasia is a major form of cancer in India, accounting for 30% of all cancers which occur in males and 11% of cancers which occur in females. Elevated serum L-fucose glycoprotein levels have been reported to be associated with neoplastic conditions involving various sites. Therefore, monitoring serum/tissue L-fucose glycoprotein levels could be a promising approach for the early diagnosis and prognosis of head neck cancers.
Aim: This study was carried out to determine the significance of serum L-fucose levels in head and neck malignancies.
Settings and design: This comparative study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in South India.
Material and methods: Serum L-fucose glycoprotein levels were estimated in 50 patients with histopathologically confirmed head and neck malignancies and they were compared with those of 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Statistical analysis used: Student's t-test was used to compare L-fucose glycoprotein levels in study and control groups.
Results: Most common site of the primary tumour in the current study was oral cavity, followed by larynx, hypopharynx and oropharynx respectively. Comparison of glycoprotein L-fucose in two groups showed more than a two-fold rise in serum fucose levels in cases as compared to the those in controls, with mean values of 11.33±7.39 and 4.74±1.55 mg% in cases and controls respectively. There was no relationship between serum fucose levels and age, sex and tumour differentiation.
Conclusion: Serum glycoprotein L-fucose levels can be used as an effective biochemical indicator in conjunction with clinical diagnostic procedures in head and neck neoplasia and they may be useful for monitoring recurrences.
Keywords: Head and neck neoplasms; Serum L-fucose glycoprotein; Squamous cell carcinoma.