Sialic acid concentrations before and after treatment of ocular tumors

Sialic acid or N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NANA) constitutes the terminal residue of carbohydrate chains of glycoprotein and glycolipid originating from membrane cells and serum. Biochemical studies indicate an increase of glycoprotein and glycolipid content of cells that have gone through a transformation. In the authors' 1987 study in FKUI-RSCM· an increase of sialic acid concentration was found in eye tumor patients. This figure was statistically significant compared to normal people. From this previous study the authors tried to use sialic acid as a means of monitoring the results of therapy. They used the Chatagnon & Chatagnon method to measure sialic acid concentrations.In spite of the inability to show the potential of sialic acid as a means of monitoring results of therapy, this study might be continued by inciuding more samples and looking more closely at this method of measurement.