Effect of vitamin E on protein bound carbhohydrate complexes in radiation treated oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Abstract

Serum glycoproteins were evaluated in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy and also the effect of vitamin E was studied. Cell surface glycoconjugates are important parameters in the detection of malignancy. Thus, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin E on glycoproteins in oral cavity cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The study includes 26 age and sex matched normal healthy individuals and 26 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. These patients were divided into two groups, one for radiotherapy alone (at a dosage of 6000 cGy in five fractions per week for a period of six weeks) and the other for radiotherapy plus vitamin E supplementation (at a dosage of 400 IU / day of vitamin E) for the entire period of radiotherapy. Levels of hexose, hexosamine, fucose and sialic acid were increased in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and a significant decrease was observed in radiation treated patients when compared to control. The levels of glycoconjugates were significantly decreased in radiation treated patients supplemented with vitamin E. This measurement may be useful in assessing disease progression and identifying patients resistant to therapy and a possible role of vitamin E on reduction in glycoconjugate levels of radiation treated oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Quantitative evaluation and correlation of serum glycoconjugates: Protein bound hexoses, sialic acid and fucose in leukoplakia, oral sub mucous fibrosis and oral cancer

“…In this study we observed significantly higher serum levels of sialic acid in OSMF, Leukoplakia and OC ( P < 0.01) and were positively correlated with findings of other studies. [30–32] Neoplasms often have increased concentration of sialic acid on tumor cell surface and sialoglycoproteins are shed or secreted by these cells increasing their concentration in blood. This increase in cancer is might also be due to selective increase in existing specific sialylated sequence or a tumor associated de-nova synthesis of specific sialylated sequence.…”

Quantitative evaluation of serum fucose in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

“…[30] Serum fucose is considered a better biochemical marker than sialic acid level in oral squamous cell carcinoma. [31,39] Some studies have concluded that it is most effective of the essential sugars when it comes to slowing the growth of cancer cells. [3,4] Decrease in serum fucose levels after treatment has been observed by different workers, although it is emphasized that follow-up period has to be long enough.…”

Assessment of serum L-fucose in brain tumor cases

“…Serum fucose level is considered a better biochemical tumor marker than sialic acid level in oral squamous cell carcinoma. [ 28 29 ] Some studies have concluded that fucose and mannose appeared to be the most effective of the essential sugars when it came to slowing the growth of cancer cells. [ 4 5 ] Although, mean serum fucose levels after therapy was found to be decreased, some of the follow-up cases showed an elevation after radiation and chemotherapy in the present study.…”