Background: High levels of serum total sialic acid (TSA) have been reported in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients. In this study, the clinical value and possible cause of increased total sialic acid in the serum in cholangiocarcinoma patients were examined.
Methods: Total sialic acid was determined in 172 serum and 25 tumor tissue samples taken from cholangiocarcinoma patients using the periodate thiobarbituric acid method.
Results: The total sialic acid content of the tumor tissue was significantly greater than that of the serum and not related to the concentration found in the serum. The serum total sialic acid was not correlated with age, sex, body mass index, blood group, tumor location, tumor stage, metastatic condition, histological types and survival of the patients. The increased total sialic acid in the serum had a significant correlation with serum MUC5AC mucin, alkaline phosphatase and the CA19-9, and the numbers of white blood cell and neutrophils.
Conclusions: The concentration of serum sialic acid was not associated with clinicopathologic features or the tumor burden. The glycoproteins secreted from the tumor and inflammatory cells might be responsible for the increased total sialic acid in the serum in these patients.