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Hexosaminidase as a new potential marker for larynx cancer
Ewa Olszewska1, Malgorzata Borzym-Kluczyk, Ireneusz Rzewnicki
1Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Sklodowskiej 24 A, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland. ewaolsz@yahoo.com
Objectives:
Larynx squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common forms of cancer in the area of the neck. The aim of our study was to investigate the activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase (HEX) in larynx cancer compared with the specimens from the healthy space of the tumor that served as controls.
Design And Methods:
Larynx cancer (n=15) and normal healthy tissue around the tumor (n=15) were collected from the patients during total laryngectomy. Specimens were immediately frozen in -80 degrees C. To assess hexosaminidase activity, release of p-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenol derivatives was used.
Results:
We observed a significantly higher activity of the investigated enzyme in all laryngeal cancer specimens compared with that in healthy tissue homogenates. The differences were statistically significant.
Conclusions:
It could be assumed that HEX may release particular sugars from the ends of oligosaccharide chains of glycocalyx proteins, changing adhesive forces binding together cells, and the communication between cells and elements of extracellular matrix.
