Significance of protein-bound neuraminic acid levels in patients with prostatic and bladder carcinoma.

The role of plasma N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NANA) level in detection and staging prostatic and bladder carcinomas was evaluated. Multiple determinations were obtained in 73 male subjects, including normal controls, patients with prostatic or bladder carcinoma or with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Patients with prostatic or bladder carcinoma had significantly higher NANA levels than normal individuals. Further, in patients with prostatic carcinoma, NANA values correlated well with both the stage of the disease and the response to therapy.