Correlation and prognostic significance of beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase and serum monosialylated alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 2 The average values of relative ST6Gal I activity, the relative ST6Gal I mRNA level, serum msAFP percentage in the patients with decreased (group 1) and increased (group 2) tumor ST6Gal I activity compared to that of non-tumorous tissue

	Group 1: decreased ST6Gal	Group 2: increased ST6Gal	P1
	(n = 7)	(n = 12)
Tumor ST6Gal I activity (mU/mg of protein)	0.57 (0.47, 0.37-0.59)	1.76 (1.21, 0.94-1.93)	0.005
Relative tumor ST6Gal I activity (against non-tumor ST6Gal I activity)	0.46 (0.42, 0.25-0.71)2	2.04 (1.51, 1.35-1.88)	<0.001
Tumor ST6Gal I mRNA level3	1.78 (0.64, 0.24-1.7)	1.51 (1.08, 0.68-2.6)	N.S4
Serum AFP level (ng/mL)	7687 (680, 246-145045)	739 (161, 72-1 197)	N.S.
Serum msAFP percentage (%)	35 (41, 23-45)	18 (13, 11-17)	0.031

¹Mann–Whitney test;

²mean (median, 25^th-75^th percentile);

³group 1: n = 6, group 2: n = 11;

⁴N.S., not significant.