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Short CommunicationFree Access

Plasma N-acetyl-glucosaminidase in advanced gastro-intestinal adenocarcinoma correlates with age, stage and outcome

    Daniel Hartmann

    Institute of Molecular Medicine and Max-Planck-Research-Group on Stem Cell Aging, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany

    Department of Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Germany

    ,
    Guido von Figura

    Institute of Molecular Medicine and Max-Planck-Research-Group on Stem Cell Aging, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany

    Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Germany

    ,
    Zhangfa Song

    Institute of Molecular Medicine and Max-Planck-Research-Group on Stem Cell Aging, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany

    ,
    Sharon Harden

    Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK

    ,
    Lucy C Scott

    Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK

    ,
    TR Jeffry Evans

    Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK

    ,
    Karl Lenhard Rudolph

    Institute of Molecular Medicine and Max-Planck-Research-Group on Stem Cell Aging, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany

    Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Jena, Germany

    ,
    Alan E Bilsland

    Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK

    &
    W Nicol Keith

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: nicol.keith@glasgow.ac.uk

    Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden G61 1QH, Glasgow, UK

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.14.166

    ABSTRACT 

    Background: N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a potential marker of genotoxicity. We retrospectively analyzed plasma NAG and clinico-pathologic features in advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma patients. Methods: Plasma from 118 patients and 51 healthy volunteers was analyzed for associations between NAG levels and age, disease presence, stage, treatment responses and survival. Results: Pretreatment NAG correlated with age but was independently increased in metastatic versus locally advanced disease, particularly in gastric/esophageal patients. NAG was also associated with reduced overall survival. In subgroup analysis, increased NAG activity between day 1 and 2 of chemotherapy cycle 1 correlated with treatment response. Conclusion: We demonstrated that NAG correlates with gastrointestinal cancer outcomes. Further studies are required to determine if plasma markers of genotoxicity can be useful for disease monitoring.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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