Mukhtar Ahmad, Muhammad Tahir Majeed, Mohammad Jawaid Sabzwari, Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad Umair.
Breast Cancer; estimation of total serum Sialic acid and its comparison with CA 15-3 as tumor marker.
Professional Med J Jan ;14(1):98-103.

Objective: This project was designed to study the sensitivity and specificity of sialic acid in breast cancer patients and was compared to CA 15-3, which is one of the most specific markers of breast cancer. Study design: Comparative study. Setting: Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex. Material and Methods: 66 breast cancer patients and 30 normal individuals (controls) were included in the study to compare serum sialic acid with CA 15-3 as tumor marker. Sialic acid was estimated by colorimetric method while CA 15-3 by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of CA 15-3 in breast cancer patients was 62.5% and 80% while that of sialic acid was 62% and 76% respectively. The sensitivity of CA 15-3 and sialic acid in patients with ductal breast carcinoma was 62.5% and 54.16% whereas the specificity of CA 15-3 and sialic acid was 80% and 76% respectively. The sensitivity of CA 15-3 and sialic acid in patients with lobular breast carcinoma was 83.33% and 75% whereas the specificity of CA 15-3 and sialic acid was 80% and 76% respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that sialic acid can be used as a tumor marker in breast cancer patients and has sensitivity and specificity similar to CA 15-3. However CA 15-3 appears to have better predictive value.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com