Quantitative analysis of total and lipid bound Sialic acid level in oral potentially malignant condition and oral Squamous cell carcinoma-as marker of oral cancer

Background: Oral cancer is currently the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths among Indian men, which is usually preceded by oral potentially malignant conditions (OPC) like leukoplakia and/or oral submucous fibrosis. The idea of screening and following patients with malignancy by blood-based tests is appealing from several points of view including its ease, economic advantage, non-invasiveness and possibility of repeated sampling.the purpose of the present study is to estimate serum levels of sialic acid, in the oralpotentially malignant conditions (OPC) along with the oral cancer patients and in healthy control group to evaluate their role in diagnosis and prognosis of oral cancer. Aim: To compare and correlate serum level of total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid bound sialic acid (LSA) in oral Squamous cell carcinoma and potentially malignant condition with normal healthy subjects. Methods: Total sialic acid (TSA) and Lipid bound sialic acid (LSA) determination was carried out in patients included in study along with 30 healthy individuals without any systemic disease. Total sialic acid (TSA) determination was carried out using the Thiobarbituric acid method. 10Lipid bound sialic acid (LSA) determination was carried out using method described by Katopodis and coworkers.11 Clinical stage of the disease was determined as per American Joint Committee of Cancer (AJCC) norms.60Patients with Oral submucous fibrosis were included in the study as a potentially malignant condition and graded according to classification given by Khanna JN and Andrade NN (1995) 61 Result: The increase in TSA and LSA in oral Squamous cell carcinoma patients(Group III) patients were statistically significant compared with control as well as with the patients with (Group II) oral submucous fibrosis (p<0.001). The increase in TSA and LSA were not significant in oral submucous fibrosis when compared with controls. Conclusion: A significant increase in serum TSA & LSA levels in OSMF and oral cancer as compared to control group was noticed.