CANCER PATIENTS

COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN TOTAL SERUM SIALIC ACID AND CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN

Abstract

In the world cancer is one of the leading causes of death. Most cancers
when detected early, can be potentially cured. Thus early laboratory diagnosis of cancer has great importance in
management. The tumor markers are one of the methods of cancer management in use today. Objectives: To
compare serum sialic acid (SA) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as tumor markers in different cancer patients.
Study Design: Prospective study Setting: Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore. Material and Methods: One
hundred and fifty three (153) documented different cancer patients were studied to compare between serum sialic acid
and carcinoembryonic antigen as a tumor marker along with fifty controls of matched sex and age distribution between
30-85 years. The sialic acid was estimated by colorimetric procedure and carcinoembryonic antigen by Enzyme
Immunoassay. Results: The results revealed that mean levels of sialic acid and CEA in cancer patients were
significantly higher (p<0.05) as compared to controls, considering all malignancies together, or carcinoma,
hematological malignancies and sarcoma alone. Statistical analysis showed sialic acid to be more sensitive (p<0.05)
than CEA in detection of cancer. Conclusion: Sialic acid was seen to be a good diagnostic indicator as compared to
CEA in most cancer patients.