ABSTRACT
Laryngeal cancers account for 4% of all head and neck cancers in India. The disease process has better prognosis if it is diagnosed early. In view of this the objective of the study was to assess the reliability of serum enzyme marker adenosine deaminase and non-enzymatic antioxidant retinol in laryngeal cancer patients as supportive parameters for diagnostic purpose. Materials and methods:-25 clinically and histopathologically confirmed patients of laryngeal cancer in age group of 45-65 years were included in the study and 25 healthy subjects with in the same age group served as controls. Results:-The level of serum ADA was significantly elevated in laryngeal cancer patients in comparison to controls whereas retinol levels were significantly decreased. Conclusion: - Lipid per-oxidation as a result of cancer leads to membrane damage and an increase in cytoplasmic ADA. It is also associated with a decrease in levels of non-enzymatic antioxidant retinol. These biochemical parameters may be used as supportive parameters for diagnostic purpose and may add further for prognostic information. Further studies are required on a larger sample size to explore strategies by which normal levels of anti-oxidant can be maintained by a retinol rich diet which may play a role in reducing the morbidity and mortality due to cancer.