20 Jul 2009

OSTEOSARCOMA CASE STUDYSERUM FLUORIDE AND SIALIC ACID LEVELS IN OSTEOSARCOMA

Fluoride 42(2)157April-June 2009
OSTEOSARCOMA CASE STUDYSERUM FLUORIDE AND SIALIC ACID LEVELS IN OSTEOSARCOMA
Osteosarcoma is a rare malignant bone tumor disease presenting painfulswelling that occurs most commonly in children and young adults. Variousproposed etiological factors for osteosarcoma are ionizing radiation, family historyof bone disorders and cancer, chemicals (fluoride, beryllium, and vinyl chloride),and viruses. The status of fluoride levels in serum of osteosarcoma is still not clear,although recent reports indicate there may be a link between fluoride exposure andosteosarcoma. Glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans are an integral part of bone,and prolonged exposure to fluoride for long duration has been shown to causedegradation of collagen and ground substance in bones. The present study wasplanned to analyze serum fluoride, sialic acid, calcium, phosphorus, and alkalinephosphatase levels in 25 osteosarcoma patients and to compare them with those oftwo 25 age- and sex-matched groups of patients: (1) a group with bone-formingtumors other than osteosarcoma and (2) a control group with musculo-skeletalpain. Fluoride levels were analyzed by the ion selective F electrode, and sialic acidwas analyzed by Warren’s method. The mean serum fluoride concentration wassignificantly higher in patients with osteosarcoma compared with the other twogroups. The mean value of serum fluoride in patients with other bone formingtumors was approximately 50% of the osteosarcoma group; however, it wassignificantly higher than in the musculo-skeletal-pain control group. Compared tothe control group, serum sialic acid concentration was also significantly higher inpatients with osteosarcoma as well as in the group with other bone-formingtumors. There was, however, no significant difference in sialic acid levels in thepatients with osteosarcoma and those with other types of bone-forming tumors.These results showing a higher serum fluoride level in osteosarcoma patients thanin the two other groups suggest a role of fluoride in the etiology of osteosarcoma.Authors: Sandhu R, Lal H, Kharb S.Correspondence: Department of Biochemistry, Pt B D Sharma University of Health Sciences, HNo 1447, sector-1, Urban Estate, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India.e-mail: simmikh@rediffmail.comKeywords: Alkaline phosphatase; Osteosarcoma; Sialic acid; Serum fluorideSource: Biol Trace Elem Res 2009;24 April.[Epub ahead of print 2009, DOI 10.1007/s12011-009-

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