A case control study of glycoprotein status in ovarian carcinoma

Objectives: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death due to gynecological malignancies. The aim of our study was to investigate the status of circulating glycoprotein levels in ovarian cancer patients. Design and methods: Thirty ovarian cancer patients and an equal number of age-matched, apparently healthy subjects as controls were involved in the study. Glycoprotein levels, as indicated by the concentration of plasma total sialic acid, protein-bound hexoses, hexosamine and fucose were estimated in circulation of both the ovarian cancer patients and controls. Results: Significantly elevated levels of plasma total sialic acid, protein-bound hexoses, hexosamine and fucose were observed in ovarian cancer patients as compared to the apparently healthy controls. Conclusion: Plasma total sialic acid, protein-bound hexoses, hexosamine and fucose in the circulation of ovarian cancer patients are markedly elevated and the increase in these carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins reflect the stage of cancer and may be an additional tool in the diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian carcinoma.