Plasma fibronectin and sialic acid levels in various types of human brain tumors.

In this study, fibronectin and sialic acid concentrations were determined in plasma from patients with pituitary adenoma, meningioma and glioma, and, from controls. The mean plasma fibronectin levels in patients with pituitary adenoma, meningioma and glioma (p < 0.001) appeared to be significantly lower than controls. On the contrary, the mean plasma sialic acid values in patients with pituitary adenoma (p < 0.01), and glioma (p < 0.001) were significantly higher as compared to normal plasmas. The mean plasma sialic acid values in patients with meningioma were not different from those in controls. Also, the mean fibronectin levels in patients with glioma were found to be significantly higher than those in patients with meningioma (p < 0.05).