Preoperative serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity as a prognostic marker in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity3 @entity5 @entity14
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value of the preoperative serum alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) activity in @entity14 and to assess whether it could add prognostic information that Dukes' stages do not give. METHODS: A postoperative follow-up of 137 @entity14 @entity1 was performed, and survival analyses were carried out to evaluate the impact of AFU activity on disease-free survival. Dukes' stage classification, preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels and six other clinicopathological features of the @entity1 were also analysed. RESULTS: In previous studies, we have stressed the diagnostic value of AFU activity in preoperatively obtained serum from @entity14 @entity1 . In the present work, we have found that the enzymatic activity of serum AFU was not related to the Dukes' stage of the primary @entity5 , but it was associated with the type of @entity3 and recurrence of the disease. The mean value of preoperative serum AFU activity was higher in @entity1 with distant metastases than in those with lymph node or peritoneal metastases, or without @entity3 (p = 0.034). After a mean postoperative follow-up period of 22 months, three groups of @entity1 with different recurrence rates could be distinguished (p = 0.0014). Similar results were found when only @entity1 in Dukes' stage B (p = 0.0439) or C (p = 0.0122) were considered. CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, serum AFU activity appears to be a good prognostic factor of @entity5 recurrence in @entity14 . Furthermore, @entity1 in Dukes' stage B or C at high or very high risk of @entity5 recurrence could be spotted.
