PREDICTIVE ROLE OF TOTAL AND LIPID BOUND LIPID BOUND SIALIC ACID IN ORAL PRECANCEROUS CONDITION

Abstract

Objective: To determine the role of total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid bound sialic acid (LBSA) as
the early predictors / indicators of oral cancer and precancerous in study subjects.
Material and methods: A cross-sectional design carried out at the Department of Biochemistry,
Basic Medical Sciences Institute, in collaboration with the clinical oncology ward of Jinnah Post
Graduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Participants were divided into three groups: Group A (34
diagnosed cases of oral cancer), Group B (34 diagnosed cases of oral precancer), and Group C
(34 healthy controls). Blood samples (8 mL) were collected from each participant, and
biochemical analyses were performed, focusing on total sialic acid (TSA) and lipid-bound sialic
acid (LBSA) levels. Serum proteins were estimated using the Biuret reaction method, and TSA
and LBSA were quantified using a colorimetric method based on the reaction of sialic acid with
resorcinol reagent to form a pink chromosphere, which was measured at 580 nm using a
spectrophotometer. The study employed rigorous standards for sample preparation, reagent
stability, and the creation of standard curves for accurate measurement of TSA and LBSA levels.
The results were statistically analyzed using appropriate tools in SPSS.
Results: In the Pre-cancer group, TSA levels were significantly higher (78.7 ± 16.62 mg/dl)
compared to the Control group (60.2 ± 4.27 mg/dl), with a P-value of 0.001. Similarly, LBSA
levels were also elevated in the Pre-cancer group (22.7 ± 2.06 mg/dl) compared to Controls (19.8
± 3.18 mg/dl), with a P-value of 0.001. The TP levels were markedly higher in the Pre-cancer
group (11.3 ± 2.37 g/dl) compared to the Control group (6.2 ± 0.61 g/dl), also with a P-value of
0.001. Conversely, the TSA/TP ratio was lower in the Pre-cancer group (7.4 ± 2.72) compared to
Controls (9.6 ± 1.26), with a P-value of 0.001.
Conclusion : As per the conclusion the TSA and LBSA levels were significantly elevated in the
pre-cancer group, while the TSA/TP ratio was notably lower and the findings indicating that the
TSA and LBSA may serve as potential biomarkers for the early detection of oral pre-cancerous
conditions, highlighting their predictive role in the progression towards oral cancer.
Key words: Oral precancer, early predictor, TSA, LBSA