48 Dhiraj J. Trivedi et al ISSN 2278-1145 International Journal of Integrative sciences, Innovation and Technology (A Peer Review E-3 Journal of Science Innovation Technology) Section A – Basic Sciences; Section B –Applied and Technological Sciences; Section C – Allied Sciences Available online at www.ijiit.webs.com Research Article SALIVARY SIALIC ACID AS MARKER OF ORAL CANCER DR. DHIRAJ J. TRIVEDI*, MS. CHHAYA D. TRIVEDI 1 , DR. KAVERI HALLIKERI 2 , DR. RAVINDRA UDUPA 3 *Professor and head, Department of Biochemistry, SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka, India 1 Dr. DY P ES Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra India. 2 Oral Pathology, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. ABSTRACT Oral cavity cancer is cause of cancer-related deaths among Indian men. Early detection is the key to treat. Aberrant glycosylation including sialylation in cell membrane are the important events in malignant transformation. Salivary Sialic acid is emerging as the diagnostic marker in recent years. Present study was conducted to estimate total protein, carbohydrate, free and protein bound Sialic acid in saliva of oral cancer patients before and after radiotherapy. Salivary level of total protein (197.5±3.5), carbohydrate (62±4.3), free Sialic acid (4.1±0.1) and protein bound Sialic acid (3.15±0.1) content were significantly increased in oral cancer. On estimation of level of total protein (141.3±1.5), carbohydrate(48.4± 0.7), free Sialic acid (3.5±0.2) and protein bound Sialic acid (2.75±0.5) content Fifteen days after radio therapy were found to be significantly lowered as compared to the value observed before radiotherapy. This shows saliva can be the diagnostic medium and Sialic acid in saliva can become a probable tumor marker in diagnosis of oral cancer. KEYWORDS : Sialic acid, N-Ac neuraminic acid, Cancer, saliva, Radiation effect INTRODUCTION Oral cavity cancer is currently the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths among Indian men. It is preceded by oral pre-cancerous conditions like leukoplakia or oral sub-mucous fibrosis. Altered cell surface topography is the seal of malignant cell. Early detection is the key to treat oral cancer. Attempts are on to develop sensitive, specific and reliable biochemical tests for the early detection and diagnosis of the disease. Glycoconjugates play an important role in malignant transformation of cells.[1,2,3] The oligosaccharide side chains of the glycoconjugates consist of Sialic acid at their termini. Terminal sugars of glycoprotein and glycolipid play significant role in cell to cell interactions and in development of cell adhesion, which is significant in malignant transformations. Aberrant glycosylation including sialylation in cell membrane are the important events in malignant transformation[ 4,5] Elevated serum levels of Sialic acid, [6] and certain glycoprotein in various carcinomas, including oral cavity cancer have been reported. Radio therapy is one of the methods of choice in the treatment of cancer. Radiation is responsible for protein annihilation and supervises uncontrolled proliferation. Saliva, a normal secretion of oral cavity, is a complex fluid composed of a wide variety of organic and inorganic constituents which collectively act to modulate the oral environment.[7] It is a unique fluid and emerging as the diagnostic medium in recent years,[8] due to its easy accessibility, non-invasive collection procedure with limited training and without any special equipment. Increase of various glycoprotein tumor markers have been reported in saliva. Keeping in view the role of Sialic acid in unusual glycosylation this study was conducted to estimate total protein, carbohydrate, free and protein bound Sialic acid in saliva of oral cancer patients before and after radiotherapy. Int. J. Int sci. Inn. Tech. Sec. B, Apr. 2012, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pg 48-50