[Determination of serum glycosylated proteins in normoglycemic patients with cancer]

The nitroblue tetrazolium "fructosamine" test was elaborated by Johnson et al. in 1982. It gives an easy evaluation of the degree of non enzymatic glycosylation of serum proteins. This degree, like the percentage of HbA1C, is a biochemical test of the average level of glycemia and so is useful in diabetic patient management. The authors test "fructosamine" with a Kone-Progress automated analyzer on blood collected without anticoagulant or antiglycolytic substances; if iodoacetate is added to the blood sample, they observed a partial inhibition of chemical reaction. The results of the tests carried on two groups of normoglycemic patients with localized and metastatic cancers don't show significant statistical difference with healthy subjects. The nitroblue tetrazolium test can be used to manage diabetics patients suffering from cancers; however for metastatic and cachectic patients, an accelerated turn-over of proteins might decrease the non enzymatic glycosylation degree.