Biochemical markers of tumor diathesis and early cancer

Many biochemical parameters have been used as tumor markers but few are satisfactory to reflect tumor diathesis and/or for early detection. Studies in the Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, have indicated that serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and sialic acid were increased in lung cancers, but 20% of pulmonary tuberculosis patients were also positive. Serum polyamines determined by RIA were increased in cancer patients. The positive rates for cancer of lung and esophagus were 84% and 100%, respectively. Polyamine contents considerably increased in esophagus tissue of rats treated with methylbenzylnitrosamine, and this occurred far earlier than the tumor appeared. However, whether serum polyamine can be used for early detection of esophageal cancer awaits further studies. An unknown fluorescent compound in urine was found in normal people but was very much decreased in cancer patients. This compound showed cytostatic effect on tumor cells in vitro. Serum antibodies against EBV-associated DNase could be used as a marker for NPC.