INTRODUCTION
OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION
Serum mucoprotein levels are elevated in several Table No. I depicts the serum mucoprotein levels of
pathological conditons including malignancy (Stern and untreated patients of carcinoma larynx & pharynx and
Willhelm 1943,Seibertetal 1947, Winzler and Smyth 1948, controls. The mean Serum mucoprotein level in patients
Shetlar et al 1952 and Arcadi 1958). Earlier workers did was 37 3.20 mg%. Serum mucoprotein level ranged from
not find any significant change for diagnostic purposes. 14-60mg% in patients. This elevated level of serum
However, in recent years a search is on for a chemical mucoprotein level was highly significant (P<0.001) when
parameter for monitoring the therapy of cancer. compared to healthy persons. The highest mean level of
Dobryszycka et al, 1991, investigated several biochemical serum mucoprotein was observed in the patients where
parameters including serum mucoprotein during the both the sites-larynx and pharynx were involved. This
therapy of ovarian carcinoma. They did not find changes higher value of serum mucoprotein in laryngopharyngeal
in mucoprotein level during therapy to be of any value in cancer, as compared to carcinoma pharynx was highly
the surveillance of disease status. However, several authors significant (P<0.001), however the difference between
have found serum sialoglycoprotein and mucoprotein levels carcinoma laryngopharynx and larynx was not significant.
useful for monitoring radiotherapy (Arcadi 1958, Joshi et
Effect of radiotherapy on serum mucoprotein level is
al 1989). Hence, present study was undertaken to
shown in Table no. II. Radiotherapy caused a decline in
investigate the changes in serum mucoprotein level during
serum mucoprotein level in 35 patients, whereas one
the radiotherapy of carcinoma larynx and pharynx.
patient showed an elevation of 1 mg% in serum
mucoprotein level following therapy. The decline in serum
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Serum mucoprotein was evaluated in 61 individuals mucoprotein level in 35 patients who showed a fall in
including 36 untreated biopsy proved patients of serum mucoprotein level ranged from l-34mg%.
Carcinoma Larynx & Pharynx and 25 healthy controls.
The post-therapy serum mucoprotein level was
Patients were those referred to the Radiotherapy
significantly lower as compared to pretherapy level
Department, K. G. Medical College, Lucknow. Serum
(P<0.001). However, post-therapy level ...nained
samples were collected before the start of radiotherapy.
considerably higher than controls (P<0.001).
Serum samples were also collected from 25 healthy adults
Stage-wise effect of radiotherapy in larynx & pharynx
malignancy was analysed. It was found that the stage of
the disease has no correlation with the serum mucoprotein
level in untreated patients. Joshi et al (1989) in their study
of base tongue malignancy did not find any correlation in
mucoprotein level and various stages of the disease. It
was found that decline in serum mucoportein level was
whose blood sample was taken from the State Blood Bank,
Lucknow. Patients were treated by 4000-6500 cGy of
radiation in 4-6l/2 weeks in 20-33 fractions by telecobalt
machine(Theratron 780C). Serum samples were again
collected from the patients after the completion of
radiotherapy. Serum mucoprotein level was determined
by Winzler's Method (Winzler, 1955).
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1Associate Professor, Junior Resident III, Dept. of Radiotherapy. Assistant Professor. Dept. of Pathology. Associate Professor, Dept.
of ENT, K. G. Medical College, Lucknow.
Gerrard
