Concentration of hypoxia-inducible factor-1, glucose transporter 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in tissue samples and serum in patients with primary laryngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Markers of tumorigenesis are essential factors which may play a major role in the early detection of head and neck carcinoma. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To assess concentration of HIF-1, GLUT1 and VEGF in tissue samples and blood serum and its correlation to the tumour size, nodal disease, pathologic differentiation and patients' data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma stage I-IV in which concentration of HIF-1, GLUT1 and VEGF was assessed in tissue samples and blood serum using immunoassay method. RESULTS: HIF-1α, GLUT1, VEGF concentration was significantly higher in cancer tissue samples than in normal tissue (p < .001) and benign laryngeal lesions. Serum levels of the factors were significantly lower in the control group. Statistically significant difference regarding tumour size was found between T2 and T4 stages in HIF-1α concentration in cancer samples and serum. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that high concentration of HIF-1α, GLUT1 and VEGF might be suggestive of carcinogenic process when diagnosing patients with laryngeal lesions and could promote early detection of malignancy. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study show importance of biochemical assessment in malignant tumours which may affect clinical decisions.

Serum concentration of total sialic acids in patients with primary laryngeal carcinoma.

SummaryPurpose. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum concentrations of total sialic acids (TSA) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx preoperatively and 4 years postoperatively and to compare the results with the serum concentration of sialic acids in patients with non-neoplastic laryngeal lesions. METHODS: The study comprised 52 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and 25 patients with non-neoplastic laryngeal lesions. Serum TSA concentrations were assessed in all patients preoperatively. Four years after surgery, serum TSA concentrations were assessed again in 21 patients from the study group in whom recurrence was not detected. RESULTS: Significantly higher serum concentrations of TSA were found in patients with laryngeal cancer compared to the control group (p< 0.0000001). Changes in TSA concentrations in the study group depended only on cancer grade (G). Significantly higher TSA concentrations were found in G3 patients. Such a relationship was not found for other parameters assessed. Alcohol consumption was the only important factor that affected TSA concentration in the control group. Significantly higher TSA concentrations were found in patients who admitted alcohol abuse. Significantly lower TSA concentrations were observed in patients with laryngeal cancer who were assessed 4 years postoperatively (p < 0.000106). CONCLUSION: Serum concentration of TSA was increased significantly in laryngeal cancer and decreased significantly after several years of successful treatment. Further studies are warranted to assess the possibility of using sialic acids as a marker or target for immunotherapy. KEY WORDS: sialic acids, squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, markers in laryngeal cancer, N-acetyl-5-neuraminic acid.

Sialic acids in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Altered glycosylation is a universal characteristic of cancer cells, and various types of glycan structures are well­known markers of tumor progression and invasion. The present article discusses this aspect of the role of sialic acid, biosynthesis of sialylglycoconjugates and the genetic basis of its disorder, as well as the effects and the correlation between altered sialylation and clinical prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Only a few studies concerning the level of sialic acid in head and neck tumors have been conducted so far. The conclusions of the published reports dedicated to that problem confirm the presence of elevated levels of total sialic acid in these tumors. The authors do not always agree with the level of free or associated form of sialic acid correlated with tumor size, severity of the condition, and lymph nodes. Comparing the progress that has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of other cancers thanks to extensive work on the role of sialic acids, we come to the conclusion that only further detailed studies of this subject in relation to HNSCC are able to answer the question whether the extent of glycoforms of sialic acid may act as a tumor marker or target of immunotherapy.