OSTEOSARCOMA CASE STUDY

Fluoride 42(2)157
April-June 2009
OSTEOSARCOMA CASE STUDY
SERUM FLUORIDE AND SIALIC ACID LEVELS IN OSTEOSARCOMA
Osteosarcoma is a rare malignant bone tumor disease presenting painful
swelling that occurs most commonly in children and young adults. Various
proposed etiological factors for osteosarcoma are ionizing radiation, family history
of 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 and
osteosarcoma. Glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans are an integral part of bone,
and prolonged exposure to fluoride for long duration has been shown to cause
degradation of collagen and ground substance in bones. The present study was
planned to analyze serum fluoride, sialic acid, calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline
phosphatase levels in 25 osteosarcoma patients and to compare them with those of
two 25 age- and sex-matched groups of patients: (1) a group with bone-forming
tumors other than osteosarcoma and (2) a control group with musculo-skeletal
pain. Fluoride levels were analyzed by the ion selective F electrode, and sialic acid
was analyzed by Warren’s method. The mean serum fluoride concentration was
significantly higher in patients with osteosarcoma compared with the other two
groups. The mean value of serum fluoride in patients with other bone forming
tumors was approximately 50% of the osteosarcoma group; however, it was
significantly higher than in the musculo-skeletal-pain control group. Compared to
the control group, serum sialic acid concentration was also significantly higher in
patients with osteosarcoma as well as in the group with other bone-forming
tumors. There was, however, no significant difference in sialic acid levels in the
patients with osteosarcoma and those with other types of bone-forming tumors.
These results showing a higher serum fluoride level in osteosarcoma patients than
in 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, H
No 1447, sector-1, Urban Estate, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India.
e-mail: simmikh@rediffmail.com
Keywords: Alkaline phosphatase; Osteosarcoma; Sialic acid; Serum fluoride
Source: Biol Trace Elem Res 2009;24 April.[Epub ahead of print 2009, DOI 10.1007/s12011-009-